"This and That"

Happy Birthday 'Nae

2011-04-24T13:16:00.002-05:00

Today we celebrate Easter, Christ is risen! And in our house, we are also celebrating the birth of Janae. Eleven years ago today she was born.

She's grown up just a bit, don't you think? She's a huge blessing, and I love her with all my heart!

A Quarterly Update.....

2011-04-14T20:01:00.004-05:00

Although I have good intentions when I actually do blog something, and think I will continue to regularly blog, it just doesn't happen anymore. I actually had a few minutes, and thought I'd put something on here. Wonder if anybody ever checks it anymore......... I love reading everyone else's blogs, but I do a really bad job of keeping mine up to date. So, since it was during Christmas break when I last posted, I thought maybe my goal could be a quarterly posting instead of weekly or daily. Only problem with that, I probably will only mange to do it a couple times of year! Ha. Over spring break we decided it was time for contacts for Janae. Bless her heart, I only took her to the eye doctor to get the contacts, and it ended up her prescription had really changed. And no, it hadn't been 6 years since she had been seen last. It was exactly a year ago, and my plan was to keep her same glasses and only have to buy contacts. Uh, wrong. New glasses too! She's loving the contacts, and is able to pop them in and out easily after just a couple of weeks. The only think I don't like about them is, I think she looks so much older. She will be 11 on Sunday. This year her birthday falls on Easter. She's pretty excited about that. Brings back memories. The last time Easter fell this late in the year was the year she was born. She was born the day after Easter. And now to brag a bit. She had a picture in the Lubbock Arts Festival. She has the greatest art teacher in the world this year. That lady enters these kids in everything she can find. These pictures were picked by judges from the Art Festival. About 15 kids from her school had pictures in it, out of 525 kids in the school. Janae does a great job, and she has a teacher who wants the kids rewarded for their hard work. Janae also had a picture entered into the Reflections program, which schools from all over the country enter, that is judged as well by people who don't know the kids, and she made it all the way to state with that picture!! We are going to a luncheon in a couple of weeks and she and the other 6 kids from Oak Ridge (and all the other Frenship schools) will be honored by the superintendent. You go girl!

Hunter is playing machine pitch baseball this spring. It's been alot of fun, he's doing a great job and thoroughly enjoying himself. He hit his very first home run ever in the first game! My memory card on the camera didn't work so I didn't get a picture of it, but he was so thrilled. Mama was so excited I got teary eyed. (I'm way too emotional!)

Here he is watching the ball roll right past him! See how good he's doing?? ha, ha

I think he's just as cute as he can be.

Well, I have 2 more full weeks of class this semester, than a week of finals. About 3 weeks off, then summer school. It's looking like I will be able to finish all my classes by December, then I have to do a work study. I'm hoping to get a paid position somewhere and be able to do the work study in the fall semester, then I GRADUATE!! Whoo-hoo!!! If I can do that, I'll have done it in 2 years. When I started I thought it would take me at least 3! I'm getting excited, and in just the last couple of weeks have starting being confident I will be able to actually get a job and know what I'm doing! So if anyone knows an attorney who pays big bucks and is hiring: let me know!!

Taking Legal Writing this semester has been quite trying, in the beginning of the semester I was making 70's on everything I was turning in, and getting very irritated, (those of you who know my anal and perfectionist tendencies will not be shocked at hearing this), but I've actually "gotten it" and am doing well in all my 5 classes. Whew! It's been quite a semester, can't believe it's almost over!

I should have actually posted in March to be quarterly, I just realized this, so I guess I'll be back in June to stay on a quarterly schedule! tee, hee

Memories

2011-01-05T18:53:00.004-06:00

On Saturday, we went to go see John's grandparents in San Angelo. While we were driving the 3 hours there, and the 3 hours back, we were telling the kids stories about when we were kids. (Have to keep them entertained somehow you know).

Anyhoo, I was telling them about when we were living in South Korea, we lived up on a hill and my brother and I would "sled" down it during the winter using cardboard or boards. We had somewhat of a forest behind us and we would go explore and find bunkers from the war. Good times.

There would be soldiers up there in the woods sometimes (since Korea isn't really at peace, because of North Korea), they would be patrolling. I don't specifically remember American soldiers being up there behind the house, even though we saw them all over anytime we went out. Anyway, as 6 and 8 year old kids, we didn't really understand the magnitude of all that. We were just out having fun exploring and playing in the bunkers. (Where were my parents you ask? Different world back then.)

I remembered that one time we found a Korean soldier up there and "dragged" him back down to our backyard and were playing and wrestling with him. My mom must have seen us and taken a picture of it, we were trying to get his huge military boots off. He was just having a blast playing with these little American kids, but now, uh-hum, 25 years later, I can only imagine the trouble he would have been in if he would have been caught rolling around on the ground with kids pulling off his boots when he was supposed to be patrolling.

So, in saying all of that, the kids went to my parent's house on Sunday and wanted to see the pictures of it. My mom couldn't find them, so I was looking, and didn't find those, but I did find pics of us sledding down the hill, (that was another lifetime ago, can anyone imagine ME voluntarily out playing in the snow when it's below zero outside? I think not.) And.....I found some other cute pics I wanted to share.

Look at the blonde hair I had! Janae saw it and said, "Mom!, Your hair was white!!" I know. One of my pride and joys, even now. Pride goeth before a fall, I really try, I do!

I was around 3 in both of these picture. Cute, huh? Attitude already, just see below.....

Obviously, this is a picture of my brother's wedding. They got married on Janae's 4th birthday. The photographer was trying to take pictures at the reception, and Janae just ran up there and lept into her new Aunt Megan's arms. Love this picture, mainly because of the memory behind it. So glad they love Auntie Megan.

And last but not least, my boy. He holds a special place in my heart, Janae does too, and I love her every bit as much, but it's different between my boy and girl. I just think he was the cutest boy ever!! He's still cute, but those baby picture, man, they make me miss my baby boy. However........

that does not mean I'm thinking of having another one. So there is a bit of memories for you. Shall I post sledding pictures?

"The Talk"

2011-01-05T18:37:00.002-06:00

Yesterday in her folder, Janae brought home a note about "The Video". How in the world is it time for that already???? So, I thought I'd better go up and talk to the nurse to see what all this education was going to entail. Mostly general type stuff that Janae knows already. Take a bath and wash your hair, wear deodorant, stay in school, etc.

However, they will be watching a video about what girls will go through and the proper names of all the body parts. Most of it, I've already visited with her about, but this gave me a kick in the pants to just clarify and make sure she'll know what will be discussed at school.

Sigh......We sat here and watched the video ahead of time, it's on Proctor and Gamble's website, they created it. Wasn't bad, but I'm already getting the pre-teen "Do I have to watch this??" I have to say I was somewhat amused at her. I think she was more uncomfortable about talking about it than I was, and somehow I thought it'd be the other way around! Just the facts, ma'am, just the facts.

Thankfully I know the school nurse pretty well and was confident that nothing would be going on I didn't want to be, but just had to make sure. I was pretty impressed, she said they have the curriculum, but they can present it any way they want to. She said she wouldn't be telling the kids anything she didn't want someone else telling her kids.

So, I guess my almost middle schooler is really almost a middle schooler. ****Tears**** Where has the time gone?

The Three Cousins

2010-12-28T12:17:00.002-06:00

This little girl just loves Janae. It's so cute and just warms my heart to see them together. I only pray that in a few years when Kylie really looks up to Janae, Janae will still enjoy her as much as she does now. Kylie gets upset and cries when she gets taken away from Janae. So cute. I don't know how cute her parents think it is, but I just love it! She is an absolute doll!

Gamblin'!

2010-12-21T22:16:00.003-06:00

So, I'm sitting on the couch mindlessly playing Skip-bo on Janae's DS.........

Janae: Mom! What's the best way for us to do it? Should we get dice or cards or what??
Me: Do what, Janae?
Janae: Gamblin'!

They decided on dice. I really couldn't give a rational answer.

I'm still alive and kickin'!

2010-12-12T13:48:00.002-06:00

I haven't put anything on this blog in so long, sometimes I wonder why I still have it! This semester has been incredibly busy, I'm taking 12 hours and one of my classes is Legal Research and that has been sooo time consuming. Several papers for homework a week, and they have to be researched. That means the county law library (downtown) and the Texas Tech Law Library. The Tech law library is 4 stories. The place is huge. Does that scare anyone else but me?? But, I've gotten it all done, and am finished with two of my four classes. Two more finals this week, then a month off until next semester. Also still spending alot of time helping out at the kids school, and enjoying that. This is Janae's last year there. I don't even know where she will be going to school next year, Frenship is building a new middle school which will open next fall, and they haven't drawn the boundry lines yet. No biggie, but just a little wierd not knowing where she is even going to school in August.
Janae is lovin on our doggie. She is doing a poster for school about dogs, and needed a good picture of Duchess. Thought this turned out cute. This dog looks like a giant in this pic!

We are doing the easy Christmas pic this year. Put the timer on the camera, and run to get in position. Turned out fairly well. First time we've ever had a dog in the family Christmas picture! We never could have taken her anywhere and had pictures done, she wouldn't have cooperated at all.

My darling children and doggie!

Janae was in a Thanksgiving program this year at school. In case you couldn't tell, she was an indian. It was quite cute and enjoyable.

And last, but not least, we went to Ruidoso last month. I love going up there, went with my parents, brother, sis-in-law, and cute little 15 month old niece. That girl just adores Janae, she cries when momma takes her away, and follows Janae around everywhere. She is as cute as she can be. I need to put a pic of her on here, I haven't in a long time. Well, that's all for now, but maybe since I have a month with no homework taking every single spare minute, I can come back soon! (and often, until January 17, when school starts again!)

Stop the Comments!

2010-09-20T17:14:00.001-05:00

Can somebody please tell me how I'm getting comments from wierdos when I do have the spam blocker on???? Very irritating, and I've had to delete two from my last post already!

Before the Morning by Josh Wilson

2010-09-16T22:24:00.002-05:00

We recently started attending church at Experience Life. The 2nd week we were there, this video was played. Tim is one of the pastors there.

As we sat there and watched it, it dawned on me that Paula Beal was Hunter's substitute teacher last year whenever his teacher was out. I KNEW her! I had no idea any of this, and after church asked Hunter if he knew Jayken. Hunter said yes, and started telling me all about Jayken's heart.

I was amazed, and let me tell you, it's hard not to get teary during this. I think God showed it to us at the right time, of course, we've had a difficult summer in just not knowing what was going to happen to us financially due to Emily moving to Midland. To quote Paula, "if you can trust God with your eternity, can't you trust him with your now?" That just screamed at John and me! Okay, Lord, we hear you! It's ten minutes long, but well worth your time. If you haven't heard the whole song, listen to it, it's on U-tube as well!

Janae and her story

2010-08-25T20:19:00.002-05:00

Today in English, Janae's teacher drew a mark on a paper (the black marker), and she was told to make a picture and then write a story about the picture. It's quite cute, and I'm impressed at her creativity. There is no way in the world I could have come up with a picture like that. Mine probably would have been a triangle. I don't know where her creativity comes from, but certainly not from me! :)

You can hardly read it, so here it goes, I'm typing it for you, you just have to read it......

"Smashed Person"

One day I was storming to the park, then I saw a tiny elf. I said "hello", and so did he. We played in the park all day long. We slid down slides, walked up steps. Then I wondered what his name was. I asked what his name is, he said "Tiny Tim". I told him my name which is Janae. Tiny Tim called me giant and I called him Tiny. We were best friends! Then one day Tiny and I were going to meet in the park. But Tiny didn't show up. I got mad at him and when he showed up we had a fight! Tiny and I stood there and fought for one hour!

After awhile I smashed him into a piece of paper. Then I went home and felt lonely and sad. I didn't have any more friends, I had smashed all of my other friends. Tiny and I were best friends but not any more. Tiny's mom and I met that afternoon. She said it's not Tiny's fault he takes so long to walk, his legs are two centimeters long!

It took him two hours to get here. I told his mom Tina that I was sorry and that she could have everything I owned. She said "okay" and then kicked me out of the house.

Summertime Swimming!

2010-08-06T16:00:00.002-05:00

Last night we finished another year of swimming lessons. We went to Seahorse this year, and although I loved the price, I didn't think we were ever going to finish the 9 lessons! Didn't help that it rained for half the summer! My little diver!

And a cotton candy reward. Can I just say that they were sure wired by the time this was gone??!!

Where did summer go?

Star Wars GPS Voices!

2010-07-26T20:01:00.001-05:00

Star Wars GPS Voices!

Check this out....heard it on K-LOVE. My kids were laughing so hard, they were literally rolling in the floor.

More teeth!

2010-07-01T20:40:00.001-05:00

What is it with teeth this week?? Janae went to Cassidy's house last night and came home missing a tooth! Laurie, did you whack her? ha,ha No, she had been pulling on it, but couldn't get it out until she ate some hard stuff, and it came out. Hopefully that won't happen again for a few weeks! Drama, drama, drama.

Poetry Publication

2010-07-01T14:34:00.003-05:00

Janae got a letter today from The America Library of Poetry requesting they be allowed to publish one of her poems that her teacher sent in. I don't know if every entry sent in is going to be published in this book, or if they are just selecting some. We are way excited though! So, of course we are going to allow them to publish it, and I'll be writing a check for $38.95 to get the book! They will start selecting winners of the contest over the summer, and will send out letters to the winners after Sept 30th. Way cool!! I guess I shouldn't complain that she doesn't play sports, or do other "stuff" like that, when she's had 2 art pieces put on display at the Civic Center, and now she's going to be a published author, and she's only 10! That's my girl!! :)

Tooth time

2010-06-22T18:13:00.002-05:00

Today, Hunter heard something on TV about wiggling a tooth, so he decided to wiggle his top left tooth, because it was loose. The next thing we knew, he came running out of the bathroom saying his tooth was gone. We/he doesn't know when, where, or how. I'm thinking that he swallowed it. (So, Kristen, if you find a random tooth in your house, it belongs to us!)

Guess it was time to come out!

Speech Class

2010-06-20T12:56:00.003-05:00

Who would have ever thought I would get to do this while studying to be a paralegal? In speech class, we were assigned to do a group service project, then do a group speech on it. We picked the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on 93rd and Indiana.

Some of their animals will never be able to be released back into the wild, they wouldn't be able to survive, mainly due to physical problems. Some wouldn't be able to hunt, and some wouldn't be able to defend themselves. So, they've been at the center awhile, some for years.

This is a bobcat....
a possum....

I'm feeding baby birds....that was fun. Although I had to squish a live worm to give the bird...yuck!

A brand new baby bird....

And, I bet nobody can guess what this is!!! tee, hee

Barn owls....we cleaned this cage out, it was pretty gross. It hadn't been cleaned in about a month because these two owls had babies in there, and you can't clean it with babies in there. The parents are so protective, they will attack anybody coming in. I will just say that the birds manage to drop part of their meals all over the floor, and what do barn owls eat?? Certain little rodents, whose body parts were all over the floor. I'll say it for you.....ewwww!!!!!!!!!!!

Now these barn owls had babies. The lady showing us around opened up the door so we could see, and my goodness, those things hiss like snakes. It is amazingly loud, and let me tell you, if I walked into somebody's barn and heard that, I would certainly run the other way. Literally. She said that barn owls are federally protected, and there is a waiting list of farmers wanting the birds. She said they are a farmer's best friend. Brooke, maybe you should look into this for your snake problem. Seriously.

And a fawn. The paper actually had an article about this fawn the day we were there. It had been kidnapped from the "wild", somewhat accidentally, and brought to the center. Apparently, mama deer leave their fawns, and only check on them a couple times of day, and someone found it by itself, and thought it had been deserted. So, anyway, the "center lady" said that if it's in good health, and well fed, then it probably was fine and should have been left. I can't tell you how sorry I feel for mama deer. Came to check on baby, and it was gone. Anyway, this baby will be released back out when it gets big enough to live on it's own.

It was a great way to spend a morning, I would encourage anyone looking for volunteer oppportunities to check it out.

Go Astros!

2010-06-14T19:13:00.002-05:00

Hunter had his very first coach pitch baseball game tonight! Here he is in the outfield, getting ready for any ball to come his way. (Not really, but that was the plan!)

Ready to bat!
Yay! He got a hit, and made it to 1st, then 2nd....

3rd....

and HOME!!! Way to go Hunt!

We won 8-2. Not bad for the first game!

"Going Public"

2010-06-13T21:02:00.003-05:00

I am going to try to go public again. I may end up having to go private again, we'll just wait and see. I think I may change my blog address, so comment if you want me to let you know what it changes to! That way I won't have to worry about the person finding it that I didn't want to find it!

It drives me absolutely nuts that it doesn't update on everyone else's blog when I'm private. So bring on the comments, I'm back!

Make sense?? I didn't think so! ha, ha

Texas Rangers, Six Flags, and the Ft. Worth Zoo!

2010-06-13T19:19:00.003-05:00

Janae got new glasses last week. Aren't they cute? I love that her face seems opened up, the rim-less frames are great for her. We headed to Arlington last week for our summer trip. First stop, Texas Rangers ballpark. It was loads of fun! It was quite an interesting drive. Hunter was car sick twice by the time we got to Abilene. The car had quite an aroma, we went through two of his changes of clothes, and two blankets we always carry in the car, because I'm a tad bit cold natured. (I always travel with blankets!) Poor baby, we had to make a pit stop at good old Wal-Mart in Abilene for Dramamine, a spare towel, and another change of clothes. I'm happy to say the Dramamine is a miracle drug, we didn't need the towel or the extra clothes after the meds went down!! And my 7 year old can swallow a pill!! Wow! Didn't know until it was an "emergency" and he had to!! THANK GOODNESS the hotel had a washer and dryer. Cost me $4 to do a load of laundry, but it would have all gone in the trash otherwise! Whew.......it was quite stinky after sitting in the car for 3 hours!

They had $1 hot dogs, cotton candy, and lots of other un-healthy things that just make up the fun of going to a professional baseball game. I'm surprised we didn't all end up sick at our stomachs because of all the junk we ate!!

Aren't these two kids just as cute as they can be?? I know I'm just a little bit prejudice, but I think they are going to be as handsome and beautiful as they can be as adults!

We left in the 5th inning, the kids were getting bored, and the score was 11-2, with the Rangers winning. I hated to leave, it was absolutely a perfect evening to go to a ball game. No wind, no bugs, and it was great temperature wise out there.

Next stop was Six Flags. This is John, Janae, and Hunter coming down off of a log ride. I went with them the first time, then skipped the second. I am a huge chicken, and really have to desire to "ride rides"! The kiddie roller coaster makes my stomach drop. Janae laughed and laughed at me after I went on the kiddie roller coaster with her. She loved it, and I was shaking getting off.

The alien and Daffy....

Tweety and Bugs...

The "Six Flags" man and Wiley Coyote. The Six Flags man wouldn't get out of the picture. I really had no desire to have a pic of him, but he physically insisted!! Hunter laughed and laughed that Wiley Coyote kept covering his face. It really was funny!! He just kept going back and forth, and I had to snap fast to get a picture both ways!

Not this time!!! tee, hee (bye, bye Six Flags guy!) The "zoom" feature on the camera is great!

I have to say that Thursday was the perfect day to go. We didn't wait for any ride more than about 5 minutes. What a change from 3 years ago when we went to Disneyland, and would wait for over an hour for every single ride. Starting to re-think Disney World!!

Friday we went to the Ft. Worth Zoo. We hadn't been there since Hunter was a baby. It was really enjoyable. Took tons of pictures, love the beautiful, colorful birds. Isn't it amazing what colors God came up with?? During creation, all these colors and animals were made. A simple thing like going to the zoo, and seeing all the colorful macaws just really brings me back to the amazing creation of God Almighty. These birds definately like each other!! wink,wink Just beautiful.

Okay, now for the crazy thing we did. An elephant painted this picture. It was a crazy purchase, but we just couldn't say no. All the proceeds go back into the zoo, and really, it is pretty neat that the artist is an elephant. Now, all I have to do is go get it framed. I'm a little scared of what that's going to cost!!

I got the kids picture on this alligator the last time we were there. Janae was holding Hunter up on it then. I can't remember for sure, but I think he was less than a year old the last time. Fun to get another picture now.

Glad we didn't have to use this as our transportation coming home! Thankfully, no car sickness on the way home....bought a bottle with 100 pills in it for poor Hunt! Gonna keep it close when it's time to travel. I'm wondering if it might have something to do with his history of ear trouble. Inner ear and all....??? In my mind it makes perfect sense.

Ta, ta for now!!

Cutie Pie

2010-06-02T15:48:00.001-05:00

We got to babysit a little 9 month old cutie pie on Saturday.....

What fun! It's great to have a niece.....I enjoy her tons, but get to sleep all night!

Hello

2010-05-13T18:05:00.002-05:00

I have noticed that most of the blogging crowd seems to have moved over to Facebook, myself included. I do miss all the posts, it seems more personal than a one-liner on Facebook. I soooo need some girl time, this has been a really rough week. Friday night, here we come. Lori and Kristen, you need to come too!!

An evening at the school

2010-04-13T20:52:00.002-05:00

Tonight at the school, we had a program night, where you went to all the "special" classes to see what your kids do in there, since nothing is ever brought home. Great idea, it was fun. We learned about what they are doing in P. E., art, and music. This is the music part, it's a dance called the cupid shuffle. Janae is a 4th grader, so she got to be a helper. I was in here with Hunter since he is in first grade. Obviously they are loving it!

I'm really surprised at how excited Janae got about it. She had alot of fun!! Then, the parents "got" to do it. I had 2 children drag me out there, but thank goodness, I kept the camera, so pictures of that are spared for you! :)

(My pics got out of order when I up-loaded.....this is a pic Janae drew, it's going to be judged by judges from TTU, then hopefully go on to be displayed at the Civic center in a couple of weeks. She got one in last year, we're hoping for 2 in a row. How in the world does my child do this, when I can't even draw a straight line????)

Look at her cute little signature on the bottom!

Okay, this is what I got for getting out there with the kids. Alot of parents did, but I was awarded the cupid shuffle queen of the first grade parents. (I think it might have helped just a little bit that Janae's friends were the judges!) tee, hee

On a more serious note, I found out yesterday that our PTA board, of which I am a member, nominated me as Outstanding Volunteer of the Year in the Frenship district. All the campuses enter someone, then a winner will be picked next Friday at a luncheon. I was shocked, but quite honored. Seems like there are alot of people who do as much or more than I do, and I really expected one of them to be nominated. Hunter's teacher is up for teacher of the year, really hope she gets it.

Pray for my math grade, Kristen and I have one more "date", tomorrow night for 3 quizzes, and one test, and I'll be finished. Right now I have an 89.8%. Gotta get that "A"!!! Then on to the 2nd of 3 math classes!! She's been great, and deserves a huge "high five"!!!

Busy Day

2010-03-28T21:32:00.003-05:00

During Spring Break, we went to Lowe's to go look around. Dangerous for us, because we always find something there we "need". Anybody with me on that? We have written several checks to them lately. Spent quite a bit with all the painting and re-doing we've had going on. And if you don't know what I mean, you haven't talked to me recently! tee, hee So....back to my original story. We were at Lowe's looking around a few days ago, out in the garden center and looked at the trees. I have been wanting a peach tree for quite awhile, so we were just looking around. We found a huge magnolia tree that was a in a 27 gallon bucket and was only $179! Well, it wasn't going to fit in the trunk of my car, and since we are impulse buyers, thought we'd better just wait. And the more I thought about it, the more I thought that is just such a cheap price, and I wanted to get it. So, after church this morning, John was out in the backyard digging a hole.

As was I.

No help here, but lots of moral support.

More moral support. They were quite concerned that the hole was for them at first, because we didn't actually have the tree while we were digging. However, I have a wonderful brother who does have a pick-up and let me borrow it to go get the tree this afternoon.

Here we go.....told you it was big!!! I bet it's at least 15 feet tall. And boy, was it heavy! But I LOVE it! Thanks hubs for digging a big hole!

Rainy Start to Spring Break

2010-03-15T19:18:00.002-05:00

Today is the first official day of Spring Break, and it's rained buckets outside, and even snowed at times. Hunter has a pair of rain boots that we broke down and bought him at Target about a month ago. Every spring he has begged for some and we always said no, but gave in this year. Today was the perfect day to test them out.

Janae actually asked for a picture this time, so I had to oblige.

Her boots......

And last but not least, a dopey dog who has been inside all day!!

Happy Spring Break!!!

Dr. Seuss week

2010-03-10T16:35:00.002-06:00

We're having Dr. Seuss week at school. This morning for breakfast The Grinch and The Cat in the Hat came to visit.

Notice who is NOT in any of the pics. Janae went straight to the library, she wanted nothing to do with these characters! I thought it was cute!! Hunter got a picture, then he was finished and ready to go on to class. There were lots of kids getting autographs, but hardly any parents there taking pictures. That surprised me, I really thought that the younger kids would have their parents there with them. Oh well, guess it's too early and too busy for most of them.

New school blog....

2010-02-25T19:13:00.001-06:00

I've had to make a blog for school.....want to check it out??

www.fivegreatestbookseverwritten.blogspot.com

I'm blogging tonight....

2010-02-15T21:57:00.002-06:00

Well, since school has started, it has greatly limited my "fun time" on the computer. Seems as though I'm always doing math problems, memorizing legal terms, and doing computer projects. Computer and Law class are going great...math, not so much. But it will get better, because I have great, wonderful friends who will help me!! :) Tomorrow I get to work the book fair at school for the afternoon. Like I don't have enough to do already! It's fun though, I do it every year and enjoy it. Last week the librarian e-mailed me and said that for working, I'm going to be able to pick out a poster and a book. Guess what?? Janae was wanting a poster and Hunter a book. Cha-ching....I'm not taking any money with me!!! It "pays" to be a volunteer!

Good bye.....

2010-02-04T20:45:00.001-06:00

I had to have Aztec put to sleep today. It was one of the hardest things that I have ever done. I stayed there with her through it, and have cried my eyes out this afternoon. She would have been 12 next month.

A late snowed in story

2010-01-31T19:52:00.002-06:00

Okay, after yesterday's depressing blog, I thought I'd post something kind of funny that happened. On Thursday morning I was out in Ransom Canyon cleaning a house. It was pouring down rain that morning, you all know that!, then the snow started. I didn't think much about it, besides it wasn't supposed to start that until the afternoon. Well....I was down in the lower canyon in my car. I left and couldn't get up the hill!! I was sliding right back down. You don't always realize what a steep hill that really is sometimes! So....after trying a few times, and watching bigger cars than mine struggle up, I went back down, called my brother and asked him to come pick me up at the top of the hill. I started climbing up the hill, leaving my car behind at the house, and about that time the snow plow started running. He gave me a lift up to the top of the hill to the police station where I hung out while waiting for bro. By the time he was able to get through all the snow in Lubbock and get out there, they had completely plowed the hill. So, the police officer out at Ransom gave me a ride back up the hill and I was able to leave. A big shout out to bro for coming all the way out there, especially since I was able to get out in my car. That was so nice of him to come and try to get me! Anyway, as I was leaving, I was thinking about how I would NEVER take rides from people I don't know, especially men, and here I did it twice in one day! I think they were pretty safe though! After all, one was a policeman. Lesson learned....if snow is forcasted, I need to at least take the Toyota out there! I was afraid that I was going to get stuck out there!

Doggy update

2010-01-30T11:38:00.002-06:00

My poor doggy had a rough night, so we headed to the vet this morning. Her heart is much larger than it was 6 months ago, and the time is coming quickly. But just not today. The vet is going to give her more Lasix, a heart medicine and watch her over the weekend to see how she does. It might buy her 6 more months, it might not. I'm just in agony over knowing what to do. I can't bear the thought of her suffering and "drowning" in the fluid in the night, but at the same time, if we can keep her comfortable for a few more weeks, I'll take it. If only I knew that she could just pass away in her sleep at home, I could handle it. What I'm afraid of is that she won't be peaceful, but struggling, and I just couldn't bear it. So on Monday, the vet will call and let us know how she's done on the meds throughout the weekend. It's almost time to say goodbye to my 1st baby.....she's really been the best dog that I could have ever asked for, gentle, calm, and loving. But, it's also so close to the time that I'm going to have to decide on my own that it's time to let her go. I don't know that the vet will actually tell me. I asked her to tell me when we're just keeping her alive for me and not for her. So, probably 6 months at the very most.

Whew! Week one is over!

2010-01-23T12:44:00.003-06:00

My goodness! This is alot of work! I'm glad that I'm going to school, but it is taking up a ton of time! I'm hoping that the first week was the worst, since we started on Tuesday, I lost Sunday and Monday of study time that I will have every other week. I'm officially caught up on the computer class, she won't give us next week's assignment until tomorrow, doing well in the paralegal class, I'm really enjoying that one!, and math....well math is another story. I'm starting to wonder if it was a mistake to take it online instead of in person. I don't know what I expected, but it's just assigned to you, and then you do it. I think I would have been better off in a classroom with it explained to me. Now, the online math lab that I'm using is great, it has a tab to help you work that problem, work a similar problem, and get help, so it's working, I'm just afraid that when test time comes I'm not going to remember everything. I have done two homework assignments, and worked at the 2nd one until I got the 100, but, whew! I also have already done 2 extra credit assignments, so I hope that will help. I think that if I can get 100s on all the homework, get the extra credits that she gives, do decently on the quizzes, then maybe if I bomb the tests, I'll squeak by. Pray for me, in all seriousness, this is going to be the hardest class, and after this semester, I have two more math classes required. But I'll make it!

School days are here....

2010-01-08T20:31:00.003-06:00

I am now officially enrolled in school for the Spring semester starting January 19th. I'm taking Beginning Algebra, Intro to Computers, and Intro to Paralegal Studies. Ten hours. Then on the 20th, I'm going to take the CLEP test for English Comp I and II. That is what I scored a 102 on for the placement test, and if I can make a 50 on the CLEP I won't have to take either class, which is required, and will get 6 hours! Whoo-hoo! I'm a bit nervous about 10 hours, but I hope that I can manage it. My "houses" have been dropping like flies, and so I think maybe God is paving the way for me to do this. So, I'll have to go to one class at Reese on MWF from 9-9:50, and the other two are on-line classes. I don't have any houses on Mon/Fri so I should be able to study and get it all done. On another note, John had to CLEP 3 classes before he could get into LCU (he had 51 hours and had to have 60), and this week, he went on Wed, Thurs, and Fri, and passed all three!! Way to go!! So, he starts LCU on Monday, and I'll start a week from Monday. My life is about to get crazy, but in a good way!

Update on John's Arm

2010-01-05T14:36:00.002-06:00

Well, John has been to the doctor, gone for an MRI, and back to the doctor. All to find out that he has a tear in a muscle in his shoulder. The tear is over a bone spur, therefore, aggrevating the pain further. The doctor said he's probably always had the bone spur there, and the night he hurt it, he was lifting a patient, and I guess he tore it. Some of it is confusing to me. Anyway....he now has to go to an orthopedic surgeon to get his opinion. And since all of this is Workman's Comp, it moves at a snail's pace. Everything has to be approved before it's done, blah, blah, blah. The doctor said that the tear will have to be stitched together, requiring surgery, but it doesn't have to be done immediately. In other words, it won't heal by itself. She said that he could have the arthroscopy and see if they can shave down the bone spur, then stitch the muscle, but if they can't shave the spur, they would have to do an all out surgery. All of that is without the opinion of the orthopedist. So......most likely in the next few weeks, he'll be having shoulder surgery. That is, if he can get in with an orthopedist in the next few weeks, it usually takes forever to get in to see one!! Just thought I'd give an update of what I know, will let you know more when we find it out!

Snowy Christmas...

2009-12-25T20:37:00.002-06:00

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

2009-12-21T19:00:00.002-06:00

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......

2009-12-10T20:12:00.002-06:00

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......

2009-12-01T13:37:00.002-06:00

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

2009-11-19T21:17:00.003-06:00

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

2009-11-15T15:16:00.002-06:00

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!

2009-11-12T21:30:00.001-06:00

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!

2009-11-12T20:54:00.002-06:00

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

2009-11-01T10:57:00.002-06:00

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.......

2009-10-26T21:59:00.005-05:00

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!!

2009-10-13T20:55:00.003-05:00

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....

2009-10-10T14:52:00.000-05:00

Isn't he just the cutest thing?

See you at the pole

2009-09-23T19:51:00.002-05:00

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!

2009-09-22T21:17:00.002-05:00

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!

2009-09-20T18:03:00.002-05:00

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!

2009-09-15T20:49:00.002-05:00

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

2009-09-12T15:41:00.002-05:00

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.....

2009-09-07T20:26:00.002-05:00

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!!

Moms In Touch

2009-09-02T16:20:00.002-05:00

I found out that our new school has a prayer group, Moms In Touch, just recently, and I went this week. It was really neat, I have a story to share about it. One of the other ladies was praying for her daughter, a 4th grader, to meet some more friends, expand her "circle", and that was a big prayer for her this time. Well, when I picked up Janae that afternoon, she, just out of the blue, told me that she and her good friend, Cassidy, sat with another girl at lunch. It was the girl whose mom was praying for more friends!! My jaw just dropped, and I almost had teary eyes, it didn't take God anytime at all to answer her prayer. And, on top of that, He used my daughter to do it, after I had been praying with the other girl's mom. Wow.

Football practice

2009-08-31T20:42:00.002-05:00

Our first practice was tonight, and he LOVED it!!! This is my shy boy. Can't get along with anyone, tee hee, just like daddy.

Running, running, running,

and more running,

guess what? We're running! Woo-hoo!! This boy will sleep good tonight!

Coach helping right before football boy was going to play quarterback. Hunter loved every second of tonight. I think that the only thing he wishes is different is that he wants to play tackle football, not flag. He can't wait for next year. Tackle football and coach pitch baseball. I'll start praying now that we won't have any broken bones. (Stacey, pass that onto baseball coach!) Tonight's practice was the first of the hour and 1/2, 3 nights a week practices. Whew! Think I'm going to be tired of this looooong before Hunt is!! Better bring a book!

Off my chest..

2009-08-30T22:24:00.002-05:00

Okay, I have to get something off my chest. I was just looking at entertainment news, and saw that the Eddie guy that Leanne Rimes is fooling around with, filed for divorce from his wife. (Whoever saw that coming???) Anyway, what ticks me off, is that the press is already calling her his "ex-wife". Just because he filed?? They are still married, but as long as they aren't "together", it seems to be just fine to be fooling around. Not that being married was stopping either one of them, but it's just such a sad way to live your life. I'm so thankful that I was raised by parents who believed that marriage is for life, to one person. I really don't think that I would still be with that one person if they hadn't instilled that so deeply into me. It's been a rough, hard road, some days I wouldn't re-live again for a million bucks, but we're married for life. And, in one way, I've seen first hand what divorce does to a family, since the person that I married has been divorced and already had a family. Not for me, thank you very much. Well. I'm finished with that, thank you for letting me vent!

More pics!

2009-08-27T19:09:00.004-05:00

We rushed up to the hospital right after school, the kids were excited to see baby! She is a cutie I must say!

On another note, you can see I didn't get my hair cut. Had to cancel that day, hopefully will get one soon, I realllly need it!

I'm an aunt!!!!!

2009-08-27T12:46:00.002-05:00

Kylie Joanne Stewart arrived this morning at 8:01am. 8lbs, 6oz, 21" long. Daddy, Mommy, and baby are all doing wonderfully!

Today is the day!

2009-08-24T21:27:00.002-05:00

Today was the first day of 1st grade and 4th grade for our family. In a brand, spanking, new school, no less! Who-hoo!! Can you tell that I had to curb the enthusiasm of my 4th grader? "Mom, do we haaaaaave to take my picture??????" Notice the cute accessories she has.....

Think that I'm going to have to help Daddy with the camera. He tends to cut my head off frequently! Hope that isn't a subconsious thought of his! tee, hee

I enjoyed the summer with the kiddos, and I did miss them today, but it was time for school to start. The last few days, I was hearing alot of bickering, and "I'm bored!!" Neither of the kids was very excited about going back, however, I celebrated by going by myself to the grocery store. Still spent a fortune. How does that happen??? I had been blaming it on the fact that the kids were with me all summer, so now I need another excuse. Tomorrow, onto the salon for a hair cut. It's time to get it chopped. I'm going out on a limb, because I have no idea what I'm going to want done, just going to tell her something short, cute, and flirty. She hasn't let me down yet! Be back tomorrow with a picture!

Disclaimer

2009-08-23T10:58:00.001-05:00

This is absolutely just driving me crazy, so I do have to let everyone know who sees the picture of Hunter's teeth with his hand up there, that this picture was taken BEFORE bathtime/fingernail clean and trim time. It all got fixed about an hour later. Thank you.

Now you see it.....

2009-08-22T19:25:00.002-05:00

Hunter with all of his teeth....Hunter without all of his teeth.......

Sniff, sniff

It's almost time!

2009-08-19T17:55:00.002-05:00

It's almost time to go back to school!! I starting having the kids do a little bit to help get ready to go. Hunter has been practicing his letters, and Janae has been reading.

They don't think that they are ready to go back yet, but judging by their bored behavior, I think they are more than ready! 5 more days of summer break left!

Good Report

2009-08-17T17:49:00.001-05:00

Hunter had a visit with his ear doctor today. We got an excellent report. His pressure looked good, no fluid, no air. Doc said to keep doing what we're doing. I told him we are praying and using the nose spray. He said to keep it up, come back in 2 months! It's still summer, so I'm just praying that we get the same good report in October!

If you get grossed out easily......

2009-08-16T18:26:00.002-05:00

Tuesday night, I had a board meeting with the PTA of our new school. I am the Box Top Coordinator, so I am on the board. Anybody impressed yet?? ha, ha (on a side note, feel free to save me your box tops if you don't save them for your school!!) Well, I went to pick up another lady, her son went to Kindergarten with Hunter, and she offered to let my kids stay with her hubs and kids. They have a 12 year old daughter, and of course Hunt was eager to stay with his friend, so that's what we did. The meeting lasted simply forever, 3 hours later, we just left! It was still going strong. We both very foolishly turned our phones on vibrate, and didn't hear them ringing. So, we got back to their house, about 10pm, and her husband met us at the door, saying they had a "little accident". I naturally assumed that Hunter probably did/had something minor done to him, no big deal. Uh, no. It was Janae, she got banged up pretty bad. They were playing football in the backyard, and Hunt's friend, a 6 year old, tackled her. She hit the fence, broke her glasses, and the part of the frame that the earpiece attatches to stabbed her in the side of the head. It was bandaged up when I got there, thought about taking her up to the hospital to see Daddy, but even though he's a nurse, it's my opinion that he over reacts sometimes, so I elected to just go home and put her in bed.

We got home, and I looked at it, and it didn't look good at all. Two deep "scratches" and one really deep "hole". (remember, I warned you about the gross-out factor!!) So, the one good thing about having a nurse in the house is that you have all the supplies you could ever hope for. I put a steri-strip on her, neosporin, gauze and tape. She was pretty upset about it all, mainly because they couldn't get ahold of us to let me know, and come get her. Plus by now, it was 11pm, and she was exhausted. The funny thing is, the last thing she told me before I left her to go to sleep, was "don't take a picture of this, and put it on your blog!!" Well, that was on Tuesday, and now on Sunday, she's finally okay with it. Aren't all of you happy about that? It's starting to bruise, and turn yellow now, but it's healing. Her hip has a giant bruise too, but no pics of that! So, the next night, when it was time to change the bandage, Dad got a look at it, and was not happy. He thought she should have had a couple of stitches. Good thing I didn't take her up there, huh? She would have FREAKED out! I probably would have too!! Sometimes, the scars and a bit of scar tissue is okay! Thank goodness for a warranty on her glasses, paid $10, and got a new frame. Those were $100 frames, so anybody with kids, make sure you get a warranty. When we did it, I really didn't expect her to break her glasses, and she didn't....somebody else did! The warranty still works though!

Fun weekend!

2009-08-09T17:41:00.002-05:00

Okay, this is a bit of a story, but here we go. That hot tub that my parents gave us a couple of summers ago, sitting on our back porch and not working....well, we finally found someone to take it off our hands. We were willing to give it away, just somebody who wanted it needed to come and get it. A lady that John had worked with, was the person that we needed. Anyway, she had offered the kids a gerbil as kind of a "swap" since we just gave her the hot tub. Unfortunately, the swap didn't include anything but the animal itself. So, after momma saying "NO" for 3 weeks, I finally gave in. Friday night we were at PetSmart looking for the cage, bedding and food. Well, at that point, John couldn't get in touch with her. So, we are standing inside the store, with 2 very excited kids to put it mildly, and no animal. We ended up getting it at the store. (the gerbil) It is a cute little thing, although it looks disturbingly like a mouse, with a rat's tail. I won't think about that. Now we have 2 dogs, 2 fish, and a gerbil. And....after seeing G-Force, Hunter wants a guinea pig. John went and told him that if he can help with the gerbil, we will think about it for his b-day in November. Now Hunt is telling anyone who will listen he's getting a guinea pig for his birthday.

We went and shopped for school supplies on Friday as well. Found a kite on clearance for $.75 and grabbed it for Hunter. Then went back on Saturday and got one for Janae, so we went out to the high school on Saturday afternoon and flew kites. They really had fun, and you can't beat 2 dollars for an afternoon of fun.

And, by the way, my daughter is entering 4th grade, and going to be switching classes and needed a binder. That thing was $18.00!!! I nearly fell over. And she will probably need one for at least 3 more years, through middle school. Actually that's 4 more years! I decided that we need to move to Cooper, they don't have to buy school supplies. I spent $160, and that was just for Hunter and Janae. Last weekend, we spent $112 on band supplies for Emily, and won't even know what supplies she will need for school until the first week. At least the checkbook will have time to recover. Ah, time for summer to be drawing to an end. Every year, I think that I'm not going to wait until the end to get all this done, and every year I end up waiting. Have PTA meetings, all 3 kids dental appts, band practice, and working just this week! I won't know what to do with myself on the 1st day of school! And just to let you all know, Hunter has his 1st loose tooth. Doesn't seem possible that my "baby" is going into 1st grade, and about to lose a tooth. And it's late for the tooth, I was going to ask the dentist, he's 6 1/2 and I was starting to wonder! Okay, I'm finished prattling on for now, have a wonderful week!

Posting...

2009-08-06T18:12:00.001-05:00

Where are all of you people?? It's the middle of summer, long, lazy days, and nobody is posting!! Except Kristen. Way to go Kristen!! How am I going to keep up with everyone if you aren't posting?? By the way, that includes a couple of friends that will remain anonymous, L.B., and S.B. You need to start in on this so we know what's going on with you too!!

Baby Shower Winner!

2009-08-02T17:31:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, we had a baby shower for sis-in-law, and soon-to-be-out niece! It was at my house, and was alot of fun. Isn't it a cute, cute cake??

All the hostesses, and mommy-to-be.

I have to say that two ladies had itty bitty babies there, one of which wasn't very happy for quite a bit of the time. I don't miss that. Just for the record, if you were wondering, I'm just not aching for another one. I'm going to enjoy the sweet new one that will go home with her mommy and daddy, and that I'm sure I can see and hold to my heart's content, and then be finished, and go sleep all night!!

We had a game of "tear off a strip of toilet paper that will fit around mommy's tummy", and Janae won! She guessed exactly right, and was the only one who did! Her Aunt Megan was very pleased with her, because everyone else guessed too big! She is looking forward to a new baby cousin. She is scheduled to arrive at 7:30am on August 27th. Guess where I'll be that morning??

Football!

2009-08-01T17:15:00.002-05:00

Hunter had drills for football today. It was sooo cute! He did really well, he's going to be a fast little kid. I was impressed, he's up to 41 pounds. Way to tip those scales!

Hunter's invention....

2009-07-31T20:39:00.002-05:00

Hunter had a great idea tonight while we were doing yardwork......as you can see, Dad actually agreed and did it!!! ******Notice the great weed-eating job that was done by yours truly******

We're home!!!

2009-07-26T18:07:00.003-05:00

What a fun trip! We left on Tuesday morning to head to San Antonio. We got there in time to go on a Riverwalk Riverboat tour in the afternoon. Not the best time to go. You want to talk about HOT?? I was sweating buckets. And everyone reading this blog knows that I don't get hot. Whew, that humidity takes some getting used to. But it was lots of fun. We hadn't ever gone to the riverwalk before, but this time our hotel was right on it, and so we decided to go. Our boat driver enjoyed running Hunt and Janae into some plants growing on the side of the "shore". They thought it was fun.

We also went to the Alamo on Tuesday afternoon when we got there. No pictures were allowed inside, but it was very moving to go in there and see the history that happened there. All of that was within walking distance of the hotel, so it was easy to get to.

Wednesday morning, we headed to the animal safari. This is Hunter standing up in the sunroof for the best view. The kids really enjoyed it.

This is the best picture I could get of the zebra inside the car. He actually was in a little further, but by the time the camera clicked, he had pulled out some. He started snorting, and all the kids, (well the girls) started screaming. Such bravery.

The petting zoo part of the safari. There was one little pig and the rest were goats. Lots of babies, the kids enjoyed feeding them. They started chewing on shoestrings, and the hems of our shorts. It was funny.

Sea World here we come. Of course we got a picture with the dolphin and "Shamu". Once again, whew was it hot!

We bought 3 trays of fish to feed the dolphins with and by the time I had taken Hunter's picture, Janae had already emptied out her tray, so I didn't get a pic of her. And of course there were only 5 fish in each tray, and it was $12, so I didn't get more food to get a picture of her. Next time, I'll know to start with her. Well, I'm off to the airport to get my parents, they are coming home from Africa. It was a fun trip, but I'm glad to be home!

Plumbing problems

2009-07-20T12:19:00.003-05:00

Last night, I put Hunter in our bathtub for a bath. This is the water faucet in the "OFF" position. As you can tell, the water is going, and is most certainly not off. Uh-oh. So, I called the emergency number for the plumber that the builder had given us. Granted, it's been 4 years since the house was built, but assumed that maybe that was the route to go. After waiting an hour for a call back, I called a different plumber. Gibson plumbing. They called right back, said that a service call on the weekend was $150, and I told him I can't pay that, we're about to go on vacation. (Mind you, the water is running this entire time.) So, he said he'd call a technician out, and they'd turn off the water in the alley for free. That was the only way to get the bathtub water off, because there isn't a valve that you can just turn off like the ones under the sink or behind the toilet. So, anyway the guy came out, turned off the water, and came inside to look at the faucet. He said that there wasn't a valve under there, and no way to "fix" the problem without replacing the faucet, and thought that it would be around $300. Whoa!! This morning, John called Betenbough to find out what really is back behind that marble panel. They confirmed that there was not a shut off valve. John got the side off the tub, went to Lowe's to get another faucet, and valves to put under there so that if this happened again, we won't have to cut the water off in the alley, thereby having no water at all in the house. Well, Lowe's had the valves, but no faucet in stock. They can order one, and it's only $200. That's the cheap one.

So, long story short, we won't be getting a faucet today, but the valves are in, and we can just turn off the water to the tub. Gibson plumbing is coming back in a little bit to turn the water back on in the alley, and we should be getting back to normal. Except that our bathroom is going to be a ghetto bathroom for awhile. No bathtub faucet, and no side on the bathtub. Oh, well, whenever we have $200 for a "cheap" faucet we'll get it fixed. At least we'll have water, we won't be that ghetto!!! And by the way, if you need a plumber, call Gibson. They have been wonderful! They are turning the water off and on for free.

The offending faucet. Laying on the bathroom floor, in the throes of death. I can't wait for the water to come back on, it will be sooo nice to take a shower and brush my teeth!

Update on the doggie

2009-07-16T14:49:00.006-05:00

It's been a week since my last depressing post, so I thought I'd probably better do an update. Aztec is doing better, she seems back to her old self. For several days, I agonized about whether it was time to put her to sleep, especially since we are about to leave for a summer trip. She is still on antibiotics for the infection, and pain pills, and seems to be feeling fine now. So, I've decided that it isn't time yet. She's eating and drinking, and I'm keeping her inside except for potty breaks so she won't get too hot. I'm afraid that if she gets really hot, her heart will have to work harder with all the panting to cool her off. My wonderful brother has agreed to come over a couple of times a day while we are gone to let her out for a break, and we're going to ask a neighbor to come over once a day as well. I still know that she probably doesn't have just a long time, but for now, I'm not a mess about it anymore, not in tears everytime I think about it!! Wish me luck, we're headed to San Angelo on Saturday for John's family reunion......., then home for a couple of days, then onto San Antonio. By the way, does anybody happen to have season tickets that they would love to loan me for next week to Sea World??? I'd be extra appreciative to save $250!! You'd be my friend forever....

2 sad, sad stories

2009-07-10T18:38:00.003-05:00

*******Disclaimer to Lori--don't read unless you want to be sad, and you have a big box of tissues handy--consider this your warning!!********
I will start off with the story that isn't as sad. As surmised by my title, I'm sure you already know there are two! Last night off we went to t-ball. Great game, by the way, even though it was literally 106 degrees out there. So, a couple of hours later we got home. I went into the playroom to feed the kid's fish, and there is a fish lying on the floor. By itself. All alone. No water, no bowl, nothing. Just a dead fish in the middle of the floor. I yelled at the kids to come in, Janae started immediately howling and crying, because it was her fish, and it was quite dead at this point. Hunter knew nothing about it at all either. So, I figured it must have jumped out. There is no other explanation. So, off we go to PetSmart, have to replace a $2 fish to console my daughter. (And by the way, they confirmed that Bettas get "bored" and start jumping "to entertain themselves") Sometimes it's worth it. The hard part is that she's having to learn about death, and that isn't any fun. I will continue on with that in part 2 here in a minute. So, Janae was crying that she needs her fish, she can't live without her fish, she has to have her fish. A bit dramatic I know, but I do know that if she needs to grieve over a fish, so be it. Now, onto part 2. My 11 year old doggie Aztec hasn't been doing well for a couple of days. On Wednesday night, I went out to get her and actually thought that she had died out in the yard. I was calling and calling for her, she was laying with her back toward me, and not moving. She finally seemed to hear, then she headed for the door, but she's really been acting funny the past couple of days. Not normal at all. So I took her to the vet this afternoon. We spent 3 hours there, they did x-rays and bloodwork. She had a fever, so they thought that there was probably an infection somewhere, but didn't know where. Still don't. Onto the x-rays, this is where I had to grab a tissue. Her heart is enlarged, it's just gotten that way due to her age, and there isn't anything we can do about it. Basically, we are at the point to keep her comfortable. I didn't have to make the hard decision today, they gave her a shot of antibiotics for the infection and Lasix for the fluid around her heart and lungs. She's been having labored breathing, and that is why. So, we came home, she hadn't eaten in 2 days, and hadn't been drinking much, so the vet told us to keep an eye on her and if she didn't eat or drink tonight, she would need to come back and be hospitalized tomorrow for IV fluids. Well, she has something that isn't going to get well, it's not going to get any better, and even though I love her, she's not going to make it much longer. I already decided that I'm not going to start her on IV's because it's not ultimately going to do anything. She'll have to stay at the vet for that, and for how long? Until I decide that I can let her go? She did eat some canned dog food after we got home (yeck!), and has been drinking some, so I think that at least I can postpone that horrible decision past this weekend. I really left the vet thinking that I was going to have to have her put to sleep tomorrow. The last thing in the world I want is for her to be miserable because I can't get past my selfishness to let her go. It's going to kill me,but it's coming, and it's coming quickly. It sounds silly, she's just a dog, but I've had her longer than I've had my husband and children. I do love her, with all of my heart, but I'm going to have to let her go and say good-bye before long at all. So, please pray for me, so that I'll know when "it's time", and that I can do it. I can't even imagine how horribly hard that's going to be. She really does seem to be feeling better, it's been about 3 hours since that huge antibiotic shot, and I think that it has helped, but the end is still inevitable. As it is with every living creature. Sin is horrible, isn't it?? That's why we all have to die, her included. I'll end there, have a good weekend!

Correction

2009-07-09T19:04:00.002-05:00

All right, I have to humbly make a correction to a previous blog posting. I called LP &L today, wanting to ask if the peak rates apply to the weekends. I have laundry day planned for Saturday. I was wrong in my previous "rant" that peak means between 10am-6pm. According to the nice customer service lady on the phone, peak means "over your average usage". And they take the average between the months of Nov-Feb. So, anything over the average use of those months bumps you waaaaaay up into peak. So, if anyone waters your lawn at all, you are most likely going to go over your peak. John said that we'll just water all winter long, and up that usage, so that the summer won't be so bad. Hmmm, I see the reasoning in that, but wouldn't that be "cutting your nose to spite your face"? So, feel free to wash all day long, it won't affect anything. It still really stinks though!

Africa

2009-07-09T13:40:00.003-05:00

Tuesday my parents left for a mission trip in Zambia, Africa. Why I didn't take any pictures, I'll never know. They were going from Dallas to London, London to Switzerland for a couple of days, then onto Zambia. I know that they are having fun, and will be blessed by this trip. They went 2 summers ago as well. So, please pray for safety for them while they are over there, we have a couple of phone numbers for emergencies, but other than that probably won't hear from them. Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know about that!

It's a dog's life...

2009-07-01T21:44:00.002-05:00

Okay, this post is mostly about the water bill, I need to gripe a little bit, but today as I looked out the window, I happened to see this poor, poor, mistreated dog laying out in the backyard. I thought it was quite humorous that she was laying half on and half off of the clubhouse. Doesn't everyone feel sorry for her?
She leads such a rough life. Now....on for my griping. Last month our water bill was $123. What??? Now, I have to say that this does NOT include electric, we have another company for electricity, and that in itself is another story. So, this bill is for water, sewer, storm drainage, (whatever that is!) and garbage. Well, I paid last month, our bill is generally about $75 in the summer, so this was way high already. I vaguely remembered hearing that the water rates were going to go up, and the citizens of our fair city were in somewhat of an uproar, but I didn't ever really investigate it.

Well, yesterday I got this month's water bill. Ready??? $150!!!!! What the heck?? I looked at it and they are charging us over $4 per thousand gallons used in peak hours. And we had ALOT of peak usage. We've been letting the kids do the water/trampoline thing in the afternoons some while it's so hot, but only for 10 minutes tops. So, we decided no more of that. Then today, in the middle of the morning, as I was loading up the washing machine with load number 3 of about 6, for our mid-week washing, I realized how much water I was using in the middle of the day doing laundry. And the dishwasher was ready for me to run it as well. I got to thinking that it's GOT to be that causing our bill to skyrocket. Isn't that the stupidest thing??? It's the same amount of water that I'd be using in the evenings or middle of the night, but I'm getting screwed by washing during the day. All I can say is: this stinks! I'm going to start doing dishes and laundry around (not during) the hours of 10am-6pm and see what next month's bill is. Just a warning to everyone, be careful how much you wash......

Sleepover

2009-06-30T09:47:00.002-05:00

Hunter had his first sleepover last night. It was at our house. We had tried one other time, but his friend didn't make it....we had to call mom. Hunter had cried and cried that night, he was so disappointed. Janae is frequently getting to spend the night/have someone spend the night with her, and although there is a 3 grade difference between them, he feels that it is very unfair. So, last night after t-ball, he and Miles started "begging" (and they weren't afraid to admit they were begging), and we gave in. Hunter came up to me and said "I have a puppy dog face, please, please, please!!". Now, how can I say no to that! Although, I strongly told him it wasn't because of the begging that he was allowed to have a friend over. Can't encourage it, I certainly don't want that to become a habit, even though I thought it was humorous last night. Whew, this was at 11:45 last night, when they finally were both asleep. We started trying to wind down at 10:30. Kinda hope we don't do this again for awhile...I'm beat! They were both very good, but I don't stay up late...and I was soooo ready for them to go to sleep. I went in there and sat on the bed for 1/2 hour, otherwise, they might still be up this morning!!!

Leak!!!!

2009-06-24T15:23:00.005-05:00

Ah, where to begin telling this story?? Last week, Thursday night, it started raining, so I went out to the garage to turn off the sprinklers so they wouldn't come on Friday morning. No need to waste water! Well, when I went in there, I saw a puddle of water on the cement beside the A/C and water heater cabinet doors. Open them up, and there is water standing inside. I could also hear a dripping sound, that was loud, at least loud for a dripping. I checked the filter to the A/C and the filter is wet, and water is "plopping" through there. It was more than dripping, so I'm going to say "plopping". That's exactly what it sounded like. I'd never seen that before. So, of course, Hubs is at work, and I called him. (It's only about 11pm at this point. What better time of day for this to happen???) He couldn't see what I was talking about, of course, so I just told him about it and then went off to bed. There wasn't any water by the time he got home on Friday morning, so we figured maybe somehow the rain had blown in???!! (Not very intelligent, I know, but sometimes you just try to convice yourself there won't be anything major wrong with the A/C.) So, since it was dry, we didn't think too much more about it. Freak thing. Wrong! Our bedroom closet shares a wall with that garage closet. Saturday morning, I went in there, and saw that a box that's sitting in the floor is wet. Like 2" up the sides, no mistaking it is wet. Walked toward it, and the floor is squishing. AUUUGGGGHHHH!!! Back to the garage. Still dry out there, and the wall inside the house closet is dry, so obviously something is leaking through the floor. Off goes all the air, and on go the fans into the closet, because of course there is no vent in there, and it already smells musty. I think that the water had started leaking back through there on Thursday, and I didn't know it until Saturday. Shoo-wee!! By the way, we have a huge closet, and this is the side that I just stash everything in that I don't know what else to do with. We had a guy from church come over that works on houses for a living, and he thought it was a pipe plugged up, causing condensation to back up into the blower. Left the A/C off all day on Sat, got the floor mostly dry, but had to turn it back on to sleep. Sunday, the floor is wet again!!! So off goes the A/C, and we call first thing Monday morning. I have to interject here, that we have a Betenbough house, and I know they are not the "ritz-est" houses, but they came right over on Monday morning and fixed it. For free. Zero. Not one penny. Hallelujah!! No problems since, I'm happy to say. I put baking soda down on the carpet to try to help absorb some of the musty odor last night, and it worked well. I moved all the stuff back into the closet, and I think that we can close the book on this ordeal. I'm sure that there will something else before long, stay tuned!! And yes, it was a plugged up pipe--it was causing condensation to back up into the blower, then come under the floor into the house. Who would have thought?? (Besides our friend from church, of course!!)

Ouch!

2009-06-18T10:57:00.002-05:00

John has been having shoulder pain the last few days and headed to the doctor yesterday morning. He has a grade 1 tear in his rotator cuff. An Rx of sterioids and physical therapy is in order. Here is the good part, he works at a rehab hospital, which is full of physical therapists, and they are going to help him out with that! Our insurance does cover physical therapy, but not until after the deductible, of which he has so far met zero of! So, they are going to get with him and see what they can do. I'm so glad that he went yesterday, because he was planning to play in a golf tournament on Saturday, and knowing him, he probably would have, even through the pain. The doctor told him that if the tear was any worse, it would require surgery. And I have no doubt that after a golf tournament, it would have been worse! So, hopefully, after the steriods kick in, he'll start feeling better. Right now, he doing alot of moaning and groaning! :) tee, hee

Summer baseball and horrible mommy!

2009-06-16T19:21:00.003-05:00

Time for t-ball! For the 3rd year in a row, I'm one of the coaches! Last night was our first game. We are the Dodgers! Hunter played pitcher for our first game, and even though there is no actual pitching since it is t-ball, he did a great job. He managed to get 4 or 5 outs, I lost track!

Kudos to Stacey for the pics, because I obviously was just a tad bit busy to take pictures. I also had a picture e-mailed to me that I'd love to figure out how to pull off my e-mail and put on here. Any words of wisdom from anyone on how to do that? I played with it a bit, and couldn't figure out if there was any way to do that. On another note, I get a huge "L" on my forehead and the worst mommy in world award tonight. Janae had a birthday invitation come last week for one of her very best friends in the world, for a swimming party. When I looked at it, I "saw" Friday on the invitation, told mom Janae was coming. Just a few minutes ago, I looked at it again to check the times and saw that it was TONIGHT!! Of course it ended at 7:30, and I saw it at 7:25. I feel absolutely horrible. There are no words to describe how bad I feel. Janae cried when I told her, and I actually got teary eyed along with her. (I'm soooo sorry, Laurie!!) So, we're going to try to have her friend spend the night tomorrow night. I am usually so organized, have everything down with no problems, and I've never done anything like this! Hopefully, I never will again!

Future Farmer?

2009-06-09T11:41:00.002-05:00

This would be my son on the tractor with his Uncle Jerry.

He had the time of his life. Jerry lives around alot of brush and land that hasn't been cleared out, that's what they are doing in this last picture. Hunt is helping to clear out some of the trees, brush, and whatever else might be lurking in there. He was able to lower and lift the front bucket thing, whatever it's called! :) This was also his first driving experience, and for a 6 year old, he did a really good job.

Twin time...

2009-06-07T13:57:00.002-05:00

I had to laugh at the wondering of which twin is which! To me, they look like brothers, but not twins. There are only certain times that it really hits me how much they can look alike. If John is swimming, and when he comes up for air with his hair all plastered down, he looks like Jerry. That's about it. When I was about to meet Jerry for the first time (10 years ago) I was really worried. What if I couldn't tell them apart??? No worries, I've never had any bit of a problem. But in the picture, Jerry is on the left, in the red shirt, John on the right in the white shirt. Just wanted to clarify!! I'll be back with pictures of dinosaurs soon!

Fun Times...

2009-06-05T20:36:00.002-05:00

I'm back!! After taking almost two weeks off from blogging, which absolutely flew by, I'm back. I have alot of material and tons of pictures, all of which everyone will probably get sick of. On Wednesday, we headed out to Glen Rose, which is a suburb of Ft. Worth. John's twin brother lives out there, and their aunt and cousin, who live in Idaho, were out visiting, so we went to see everyone. Jerry is the twin, he lives out in the middle of absolutely nowhere, and the kids had a blast out there. They went looking for "fossils", rocks, animals, and whatever else you can imagine. Uncle Jerry was kind enough to give Hunter a couple of deer head skeltons. You should have seen this boy's eyes light up as soon as this shed door opened, and there were probably 10 out there. We let him pick two to bring home. He had such a hard time deciding, but was sure that he wanted one with the head (skull) still attached.

So, here are his picks, and of course as soon as we got home, they had to be hung. Dad thought it'd be a great idea to hang it above Hunt's door on the outside of his room. WRONG! Mom had to veto that right quick. So the first one is hanging on the inside of the door just above it.

The other one is just on one of the walls in his room. Janae is throughly disgusted by the whole idea, but I have to realize that I have a boy, and I need to let him be a boy, so GO HUNT, enjoy those heads and antlers.

This is John and Jerry, identical twins. Jerry is 10 minutes older. We also went to Dinosaur World while we were there, and Hunter helped Jerry drive a tractor. More pictures to come in the next couple of days.

Happy Memorial Day

2009-05-25T21:53:00.002-05:00

Today, of course, is Memorial Day. We didn't do much, just had a day off from school. (With only 4 more days to go!) I took the kids out to Legacy Play Village this morning, and they absolutely had a blast! They ran all over the place, and I just followed them from a distance. It's so nice that they are big enough that I can just pick a bench to hold down, and keep an eye on them. I don't have to follow every step they take! We stayed there about an hour, then went to another park for about an hour. We had to get out of the house so Dad could have some quiet while he slept. This afternoon, they got to play on the trampoline with the sprinklers on. They love that, but I'm so afraid that they're going to slip and break an arm or a leg up there.

Duchess likes to "play" in the sprinklers also. She tries to eat the sprinkler head while it's shooting out water.

This is what happens while she's trying to eat it......

It just came unscrewed, thank goodness! Next time, she will be locked safely in the house while we water! I'd hate to have to call the sprinkler guy over because of this giant dog eating the head off!!

Happy Memorial Day! Many thanks and much gratitude to all who are serving or who have served. Especially my cousin, Brandon, a Captain in the USMC!! He's been to Iraq twice, and it sure hits home and makes you appreciate all of these men and women, past and present, for all they have done for us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Awards and Graduation Days

2009-05-24T19:16:00.002-05:00

Hunter's kindergarten graduation was on Wednesday last week. He has officially "passed" kindergarten. Bittersweet, it went so fast, and he is growing up waaaaay too fast for me! John is ready to just have another one and start over, but I on the other hand, am not! I have loved every age that they have gone through, and I just can't be sad while I'm watching them grow and learn daily, but the time is sure flying by!! Here he is with his wonderful teacher, Mrs. Haggard. I wouldn't trade his year with her for anything. Principal Mr. Smith and assistant principal Mrs. Davis. Mr. Smith is going to the new Frenship school that we are going to. Exciting!!

Close up shot from far away during graduation. It was so funny, every one of those kids sat there yawning during the entire thing, and it started at 9am! They did so good, and had the cutest little songs. I would put one on here to show, but right now, I'm just to lazy to get up and get the video camera out to figure all that out!!

Onto Janae. Like how dressed up she was?? I sent extra clothes, her awards were in the afternoon, and I thought she might want to change, but doesn't look like it. She's here with her teacher, Mrs. Downing, and assistant principal. She got an award for perfect attendance, A honor roll, her art piece that was in the art show, outstanding citizenship (character), and reading 100 AR points this year. We'd been trying for perfect attendance every year, and every year she'd end up being sick one day in the last 6 weeks. We made it this year!! Woo-hoo!

By the way, her teacher has been AWESOME as well. I absolutely love her, she's been wonderful for Janae. Every year, I think that she has just the best teacher and really hate to lose them, (except Kindergarten for Janae :( ), but the next year, we've always gotten someone else who is just wonderful, and is making an impact on her life. I cannot say enough about Frenship teachers. This is Mrs. Davis again, assistant principal helping with awards.

Well, I suppose that we've just about made it through another year, just have end of the year parties to go to on Friday!! Last day of school will be this coming Friday, and usual I will be sniffing when it's time to say good-bye to the teachers!!!

Cardboard Testimonies Video

2009-05-21T18:37:00.002-05:00

Cardboard Testimonies Video

I just found this "You Tube" video on someone else's blog, and decided to put it on mine. It's what we did at church for Easter. It was so incredibly powerful to sit there and watch. I had tears in my eyes the whole time. Sometimes you need a reminder that God's still in charge and on his throne. It's about 6 minutes long, watch it!

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Glasses!

2009-05-16T09:21:00.002-05:00

Janae had to go to the eye doctor last weekend, and she got glasses on Monday. At first, she was absolutely horrified, she was worried sick that the school "friends" she has would make fun of her. Of course, as mom, I assured her that her real friends wouldn't and all she had to do with the other "friends" was tell them to stop. She is a real leader of her class. All went well, no problems, and as you can see one of her "bestest friends" has glasses as well. Her's are pretty recent too. Aren't they just two of the cutest girls?? So hip! It took her a week, and a friend, to let me take her picture to show off. She's finally accepted the fact that she needs them, and is wearing them well now.

Funny Story

2009-05-14T21:17:00.002-05:00

Janae is doing a play this week for her weekly story that's assigned at school. The entire class is doing it actually, not just her. Anyway, the story is Pecos Bill, and Pecos Bill's wife's name is Slewfoot Sue. Last night, Hunter went to the bathroom, and touched Janae's hairbrush before he washed his hands. She started shrieking, "Mom, Hunter's gonna give me the Slewfoot Sue!!, he didn't wash his hands right after going to the bathroom, before he touched my hairbrush!!!" "I mean he's going to give me the swine flu!" I just about lost it. Ah, the joys of your children, it gives you blogging material!

Almost Graduation time!

2009-05-09T09:18:00.002-05:00

Well, between being fairly new at blogging and using this camera, somehow I did something to make my picture go sideways. Kind of ruins the effect of it, but I still think that it is adorable. It seems like just yesterday this boy was going into school for the first day of kindergarten, and now he's about to "graduate". It just blows my mind how much he has learned, he has had a wonderful teacher, we love her. Only 3 more weeks, then I will have a 1st grader for my youngest child. Where has all of that time gone???? In the blink of an eye, he will be 18 walking across a stage again, then I will really wonder where the time has gone. In between, I will enjoy watching him growing up.

Whoo-hooo-hooo!!!!

2009-05-07T20:46:00.003-05:00

I saw in Target's newspaper ad on Sunday that they had this fabulous vacuum on sale. I watch all the ads every week, just because I've wanted one so bad for so long, but just could not bear to spend the regular price for it. It's an amazing vacuum, but it's still a vacuum, for heaven's sake!! Anyway, this week it was on sale for $110 dollars off. I talked to hubs Sunday afternoon, after his nap, (had to catch him in a happy mood!!) and he told me to go get it. Well, the ad said that quanities were limited, and no rain checks, so I was doubtful that it would be there, it was already after 6pm when we left. And we had to make an extremely fast trip, because at 7, The Amazing Race was on, and I thought, mistakenly, it was the last one. So. We went, and they were gone, probably gone by 8:30 am if I had to guess, but then when I got home I had the brilliant idea to check on-line, and guess what?? It was on sale there too, and free shipping!! Whoo-hoo. So I had to wait a couple of days to get it, 4 to be exact, but that's okay. It's well worth it.

Look at this girl go! Our old vacuum was really too heavy and hard for her to push, so she wanted to try the new one out, and she just went to town. I cannot believe that my baby is old enough to vacuum her own room. How cool is that?? I guess I shoud probably start having her make her own bed, huh?? Well, yes, I did vacuum the whole house, I just love it! It's the Dyson Animal if anyone wants to know or cares. The most expensive one, but we have two dogs that do come in the house, and one of them sheds like crazy, so I wanted to get the vacuum that was designed for the pet hair. And boy, did we vacuum up pet hair! And alot of dirt too!

Well, since I can't make this silly blog do paragraphs, I'll just change colors, and you can pretend that it's a new paragraph for the next subject. Hunter went to his "2nd opinion" doctor today, and well, all is still the same. No magic cure. The doctor agreed that yes, it's something he's just going to have to grow out of. But he actually said that it isn't all that unusual for a 6 year old to be going through this. He said you hear about the infants and little children more, just because of how many thousands of those cases there are. He said that just recently he put a 5th set of tubes in a 14 year old girl. Oh my, I hope we don't have 8 more years of this. Hunter has lost some hearing, but nothing major at this time. He said that it might affect him in maybe sitting nearer the front of the classroom, but nothing like hearing aids. No tubes for now, he really didn't have fluid, he suggested that at the first sign of a runny nose that maybe we get him on antibiotics instead of waiting until it's a massive infection, which is when Hunt first starts complaining. We never know until it starts to hurt him, then it's at the point of rupture. So, the good news is that it's not something that is just unheard of, the bad news is that we may be in for a long road with this. It's already gone on for 5 years, what's a few more?? In the winter, when the runny nose starts, we may have to consider tubes again, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. I'm glad we went, it was a $20 co-pay, and even though we don't know alot more, I do know that there's not much that we could have been doing and haven't. He did suggest that maybe we consider allergy testing, but John and I aren't really thinking we want to go that route right now. I sure would hate to tramatize him with all those sticks. I wouldn't want to do it to myself. Again, maybe on down the road if we have to, then he would be older and be able to handle it better.

Good night for now!

kitty cat...

2009-05-03T15:13:00.002-05:00

Kitty cat #2 is now officially a barn cat along with her friend.....2 down, 5 more to go. Although 3 of them are kittens, don't know if they will come over here, or just be given away. Either way works for me!!

Got it!

2009-05-02T13:18:00.002-05:00

Okay, I feel as though I need to address the comments that were just made on the previous post. Of course, I'm not going to do anything terrible. Does anybody think that Lori E.(aka Jennifer Anniston) would still be my friend if I did something too incredibly mean to the cat? Besides, I am an animal lover mostly, just not when there are 7 cats across the street all trying to ruin my flower beds by using them as a litter box. So, last night we got a cat. There is a man that we go to church with who is going to come and get any/all that we can mange to capture and take them to be his barn cats. He lives out in the country. So, all in all, it will undoubtedly be culture shock, but they won't be let out in the middle of nowhere or harmed in anyway. All morning it's been hissing and meowing, and now one of the other cats in hanging around in sympathy. Usually they aren't brave enough to hang around when it's daylight. Sure wish I could grab him and stuff him in the trap with the other one!! I was trying to be nice to the kitty and give him some water, and that infuriated the little monster. Started hissing and clawing and ended up dumping all the water all over himself. Cat full of attitude. No wonder I don't like them!! :) So, Kristen, thank you for the use of your trap. I'll probably keep it a little longer if that's okay, and work on getting more of the little beasts. And just for the record, Stacey, I am not giving you one of these cats, I know without any doubt that at least 2 of your across-the- street neighbors would not appreciate cat poop in their flowerbeds either!!

Cat trapping

2009-05-01T21:17:00.001-05:00

Okay, it's been almost a week, and I have made absolutely no progress with the cat trapping. The cat that I refer to as "that stupid cat" is seemingly smart. The last two nights, it ate the trapping food, and did not get trapped. I'm trying again tonight. I'm aggrevated, I'm just inviting that dumb animal over here for a free meal!! Hopefully tonight I will capture the first of many. We will see. I'll keep you updated. I'm sure that everyone is on the edge of their seat waiting. :)

Lots of pictures!

2009-04-26T14:17:00.003-05:00

I finally have the yard just about finished. All I need now, is for the leaves of the bulbs that had bloomed in the early spring to fall off, and the flower gardens will be finished. Hopefully, the flowers won't get killed by the neighborhood cats that love to come use my garden as their litter box. We are borrowing a cat trap from Kristen, haven't caught one yet, but we will, then bye-bye kitty. Before the planting:

Just about to start.....you can see my little helpers, and they did help. They just about dug up the big, big bed while I was working under the trees...like their little shovel and rake? They were $3 each at Lowe's, I highly recommend them, the shovel actually digs well, and they were completely entertained the entire time I was working.

After:

Janae loves to do art. She drew a picture at school, and all the teachers voted on which pictures that they liked best from what all of the students had done. I'm sure that they did it by grade, but one of hers was picked. She was incredibly, incredibly excited, and it got put in the 1st Annual Frenship Art Festival which was held at the Civic Center yesterday.

She's my little artist, can draw and color all day, and is quite good at it. I am very proud of my little 9 year old girl. The sleepover was a success, thank goodness it's over, I was soooo tired, but they all seemed to enjoy themselves greatly, and that's the main point. I am wanting to go back to Clay Cafe again, I just had to supervise, I wasn't about to start some big project with 8 little girls, so somebody come be my friend and let's go paint! (And soon!!)

Pray for me.....

2009-04-24T16:35:00.001-05:00

Today is Janae's 9th birthday. We are headed to CiCi's pizza, will meet all her little friends there for dinner, then go over to Clay Cafe, and after that, we're coming to our house for a sleepover. Need I say more? I think not......

hmmm....don't know about this.

2009-04-21T12:41:00.002-05:00

Well. I'm attempting to make my blog cute like some of the other ones I've been seeing. Not so much. I got the background changed, but having trouble with the text and layout. May have to keep working on it.

Just as a note, we have an appointment for a second opinion for Hunter's ears. It's in a couple of weeks. We'll see what a different doctor says, if there isn't anything we can do, or if he has a brilliant solution. Will keep you updated.

And as for the two posts that are not really posts, they are from me trying to change up the blog. When I deleted them, the blog went right back to how it was, so I guess they will stay!

Hang on....

2009-04-19T15:35:00.002-05:00

I have alot to talk about today, so hang on and try not to get lost. I can't get my blog to make paragraphs, so everything runs together, and I'm sure it gets confusing, sorry! First of all, I found out that yet another person was trying to leave a comment and couldn't. That makes several, so I went in and changed my "comment" section to allow the anonymous comments, I guess if you didn't register with blogger it wouldn't let you leave a comment. So, if you have tried and it wouldn't let you, just for kicks, try again. I'd like to know if that was the problem.

Thursday morning, I took Hunt to school, happened to glance at his right ear (didn't until he was in his class at his table, bad mommy), and he had dried yuckies on the inside of his ear and on his earlobe. I promptly forgot about it until I picked him up, and it was on his shirt by that time. We had to take Emily to the dentist, so I called the ENT, left a message and we went on to the dentist. Now remember that we had just been at the doctor's on Tuesday, and this is Thursday. SAME WEEK!!!!

Well, as I was sitting there in the dentist office, the doctor's office called back and said that it wasn't unusual for that to happen, it could have been the tube, put antibiotic eardrops in it. Thankfully I already had some from another time that he had a rupture. So, then it starts to rain. Then hail. And hail, and hail. It was coming down hard and fast and I was just sick. My car was out in the parking lot of course, and both of our other cars were sitting in our driveway at home, because our garage was packed with all of our garage sale junk. My car got pummeled. We were under a tornado warning, the wall cloud was just by the dentist office, probably about a mile away, we could see it out the front window. They quit seeing patients during the storm, so we sat and waited and waited. She finally got in and got seen, and the diagnosis: 7 cavities, and she needs a full set of braces. We now have dental insurance, thank goodness, last year we had to have 5 cavities filled and had to pay cash. That was about $800. This time it will be about $225. I can handle that. They will split it up, so I will pay about half each time. Without insurance it would have been over $1100. But....at this dentist, the braces are $4850, our insurance will only pay $1500, and they want the other $3300 up front. Whatever......that's not going to happen. I'm going to call the orthodonist that had previously done work on her and see if they still accept payments. We also have Janae coming up, and she's going to need orthodontic work as well, just not sure how much yet. So, after being at the dentist for 2 1/2 hours, I went out and saw my poor car. (I already called the insurance company, I'm going on Wednesday to have it checked out.) The good news is that both of our cars at home seem to be fine. We don't see any dents on them. The hail was just as bad at our house, we thought. So, onto Friday. Hunter's ear drained all night, was yucky in the morning, so I cleaned it out, cotton balled it, and sent him to school. It's not hurting, he's definately not contagious, so off he went. I got a call at 1 from the school nurse, who requested I come get him and take him to the doctor. It was draining so much that it was running through the cotton ball down his jaw. Sorry to be gross. His ear doctor doesn't work on Fridays, so we headed to the family doctor. Only waited about 10 minutes (yea!), and were diagnosed with a massive ear infection. It was draining through the hole that the tube, which had only fallen out a few days ago, had left. Thank goodness the hole hadn't closed up yet, otherwise, he would have ended up in massive pain with all that fluid pushing against his eardrum, and probably would have ruptured. (That's my diagnosis, the doc didn't say that.) So, now we are on oral and otic antibiotics, AGAIN, and wondering what in the world we are going to do with this poor boy. John is fed up with his ENT, thinks that he's not doing a good enough job, but I really don't know what else we can do. I feel that he's going to have to have another set of tubes, #3, probably very soon, but I don't want to put my son under anesthesia every 6 months to put tubes in his ears. I'm going to call the ENT tomorrow and see what he says, we may be going for a second opinion. We just don't know what to do anymore. We are afraid that he's going to end up with permanent hearing loss if we aren't extremely careful. This month was going to be a "trial period" without tubes and we are scheduled to go back in May, but we may not last that long. Please pray for wisdom for the doctor and for us. I like the doctor, but John never has, and I'm feeling very much like a go between, so to speak, trying to keep the peace when I get back from an appointment, but doing what's best for Hunter.

Ta-da!! The garage sale was a success, and our cars go back in the garage! We got rid of most everything that we were really wanting to, and made $400. We still have dresser that has been spoken for, just not paid for yet, and some exercise equipment and weights that we're going to put on Craigslist to try to get rid of. I would say that it went well, we had a great turnout, and I was impressed with everything that did get bought. The rest went straight to Goodwill, so except for those 3 things that we still have, I am officially finished with garage sale"ing" for a few years. Then I went and bought loads of flowers to fill up all our front flower beds with some of the profit. I'll start planting all of those tomorrow. I bought 6 flats, 24 flowers in each one. I'll be busy, and will post before and after pictures when I'm finished with that. I love to plant flowers every spring, one of my favorite times of the year. I'm sure that I have waaaay outdone what anyone wanted to read, but now you are all caught up on what's going on here....

Getting ready.......bit by bit

2009-04-15T20:44:00.003-05:00

Okay, I somewhat mentioned in one of my previous posts about having a garage sale coming up. This is what my normal garage with 2 cars parked inside of it looks like as of tonight.....

Obviously, there is no room for the 2 cars right now. I have been through this entire house, and hubs helped me with the attic tonight, and this isn't even all of it!!! We have a dresser and a desk that is still in the bedroom, that I need to finish cleaning out. But that's okay, not like I have a place in the garage to put it right now!! (The dresser and desk) Now, I have to finish going through it, organize it, and price, all by Saturday. This is Wednesday night. I'm feeling the pressure. I have to work the next two days, so it may be a couple of late nights. I have 2 tables set up, just needing to be priced, so I think that it's not going to be as bad as it looks. Of course, the furniture takes up tons of room, and that will all go out into the driveway first thing Saturday morning. If anyone has anything that needs to go in, bring it by....I'll never know!!! tee, hee

Doctor Day

2009-04-14T10:23:00.002-05:00

I just got back home from taking Hunter to the "ear doctor" and then on to school. Guess what??? After only 6 months, his tubes have already fallen out!! I'm still paying them off, for goodness sake!! He went to a clinic the end of February with ear pain, and that doctor said they were in, so I guess in the last 6 weeks they have fallen out. His left one is just lying in his ear, the doctor could see it. The right one, he wasn't sure, so we did a pressure test, and it's out. He thinks maybe it just fell out and is lying against the ear drum, because that ear's pressure didn't look good. It's either that, or he already has fluid back there. But Doc says he's optimistic, he was looking at Hunt and mentioned how "long and lean" he's getting/gotten, and that surely his ears canals are following along, and straightening out like they should. We go back in a month....he said we'll use this month as a trial to see if we get any infections. Hunter was delighted, no more ear plugs in the bathtub, I on the other hand, am not. Ah well....we'll just take it day by day and pray those ears into shape, literally!!

Happy Easter! (A day late)

2009-04-13T20:57:00.002-05:00

We had an Easter Egg Hunt at church on Saturday morning. It was a brilliant plan by our Children's pastor. Have some light lunch, then go outside and let the kids loose to go hunt eggs. There was only one flaw......it was raining. Yes, raining, here in Lubbock TX, where it very seldom rains. There are certain days that you can count on it to rain, as in when you've just washed your car by hand after months and months of living with it dirty. Or, when you're making big church plans that need to be outside. And don't forget the wind...when it isn't raining, the wind is blowing 400 mph. My, my, my this spring has been seemingly windier (sp??) than most. I probably think that every year, but even during the middle of the night, I'm waking up because the wind sounds like it's going to blow our brick house clear across the county. Now, mind you, I'm not complaining, I actually would rather have the wind blow than to have it snow. As some of you know, I'm a little bit cold natured. And the rain is always welcomed by me, even if the plans have to be changed a bit. Anyway, I didn't intend to get into all of that, I just wanted to show off my beautiful/handsome children. Aren't you all just terribly impressed?? I also have to give a shout out to my friend Staci, who actually posted for this quarter on Saturday. Way to go Staci!! The blogging buddies have been falling down on their posting as of late. I hear that somebody has a new car, and I have yet to see pictures. Now, I am going to complain about the next 2 pictures......

Hunter's teacher is asking for a mother/child picture this week for a Mother's Day project. I had Janae take these two, hence mom not having the top of my head in the first one, but what is it with a 6 year old boy who absolutely cannot smile for a picture without it looking incredibly cheesy??? These are NOT going to work, we're going to have to keep trying. He's also started chewing on his shirt collar, can you tell? How do you break that habit, besides nagging him to death about it? Well, maybe IF I can get a decent picture to send to school, I will post it. I really need to quit facebooking and blogging and get my rear in gear for a garage sale that is supposed to be on Saturday. I still have to go through some of the house, find out about advertising in the paper, and start pricing. I may be up late on Thursday and Friday nights!!!

It's a girl!!

2009-04-09T22:47:00.001-05:00

I'm having a little niece! How fun and exciting!! They just found out today, and the most important thing is, that she is healthy!

What a Gentleman!

2009-04-04T22:01:00.004-05:00

I have to brag on my son today. I did for Janae last week, and now it's his turn. We've been out shopping and running errands yesterday and today, and my 6 year old boy is opening the car door for me each and every time we get in to leave. He is going straight to my door, before he tries to get in, just to let me in first. What a little man! I'm so proud, although it feels so odd, I've opened the door and put him in first his whole life, and now all of a sudden, he's starting to take care of me. I don't know why he's doing it, I haven't talked to him about it, but he's very conscious about it. I don't really want him to stop, but it's going to be a hard habit to break and get in while he's still outside the car. Such a little gentleman!