Happy Thought

Today after cleaning the house and not quite succeeding in having a clean house, I decided that there are 2 things that I'm looking forward to after my kids are grown. One, is that I will indeed have a clean house and it will stay that way until I dirty it and two, is that I will have a Christmas tree that looks like the one at Dillard's. You know the tree where there is a 2 color theme and about 7 different kinds of ornaments. My life will probably be so boring that I will wish for the days when I had a dirty house to clean and relish the times my grandchildren come over to haphazardly decorate my tree, but for now the thought makes me happy!!

Side note: Julianna is already over 3 months old and is a complete joy. She hardly ever cries and has always been easy at night. Oh, she also has the courtesy to poop only a few time a week, which is really great since I'm using cloth diapers!

Halloween

My friend made the ballerina spider costumes. She had made one for her daughter the previous week and asked my kids on the Thurs. before Halloween if they would like to be spiders. Yes was the obvious answer so she was finishing costumes right before we went trick or treating! We had fun trick or treating, but this may be the last year we do it. I'm not much on Halloween and there were some really scarey costumes. I think next year we'll just go to a fall festival and that's it. I hope everyone had a great Halloween!

Sick

Well the whole family has been sick for a week with probably the Swine Flu. We are still here and kicking, but still in the recovery mode. If any of you have gotten this already, I'm so sorry, it is very horrible! It's one of those things where your pretty sure that all you need is death and then you could feel better! Caroline got sick at her birthday dinner, so we haven't even had her party yet. We have some making up partying to do for that little girl! Take care every one, I hope you steer clear of dun..dun..dun...THE SWINE FLU!

Happy Birthday Caroline

Happy Birthday, Caroline, we love you!!!!!

We had a good day today celebrating Caroline's 4th birthday. She got a fishing pole from her Daddy, so we went on a short fishing trip to make sure she caught a fish. She's been fishing before, but this time she finally caught one. It was a baby Straighter Fish (aka Bass). Good job Caroline!
Today I've been thinking back 4 years ago when my sweet little girl was born. It was not a tremendously painful birth which I was very thankful for. I remember the worse thing I said was "I don't think I want to ever do this again" and "I don't like Eve for making childbirth painful." That's pretty darn good comparitively! It is such a joyous thing to have that new born baby in your arms. When Caroline was being delivered her eyes were open and that's pretty much how she has been. She's always ready to try new things. Olivia and I used to call her danger woman. She was swimming underwater this summer because she saw one of the little girls on Jon and Kate Plus 8 do it. Life with Caroline is never boring and I sometimes have to hold my breath and pray a lot! I couldn't imagine life without her! Thank you Lord for giving me such a precious little girl!

Busy, busy great months

David's Aunt Winnie From Scotland and the girls with their outfits that she brought them, they had to change right away and I believe they wanted to sleep in them!

Olivia and cousin Asia buried in the sand by Uncle Matt when we went camping at Lake Texoma with my family this summer.

Sitting in rocking chairs outside Cracker Barrel. David thinks Caroline's smile is hillarious, which it is, but I will be glad when she remembers how to smile again!!! Poor little thing!

We've had quit a busy late summer and early fall. Two of David's cousins and their families came and we had a big party for one of David's Uncles that left to work in an orphanage in Mexico. He is 71 and has had a dream of going there since he was 18. It was a wonderful time to be with the whole family and celebrate this new adventure with him.

Then David's Aunt and Uncle from Scotland were visiting from Scotland. We have such a great time with them. His Uncle reminds me so much of David. We also went with David's parents and his Scotland Aunt and Uncle to visit David's youngest brother in Abilene. We had such a great time there. David's brother (Jonathan and wife Teresa) work out a boy's ranch there. We went to see prarie dogs, went to a really neat museum and went to an old historic town.

I've also got to spend some time with different friends from high school. It has really been a great few months of fellowshiping with family and old friends.

School has been going well. I am extremely laid back with it and I'm (finally) okay with that. The kids (and I) have been learning a lot. God is faithful to show us new things in life and in his word. I have learned to really try and ask God to help me live out the verse "A soft answer turns away wrath, but grevious words stir up anger" Prov. 15:1. The kids have also learned that verse and it has really helped.

I will try to be a better blogger from now on! I miss everyone when I don't check your blogs!

Finally I posted a blog again

The kids and I just looked back through the blog and saw all are pictures. I didn't realize how much they've changed in the last year!
We finally started our school year about 4 weeks ago. It's going really well. We really only have to school for about 2 hrs a day. Of course, all throughout the day we are learning, working and playing together.
David's uncle and aunt from Scotland are here, which is great! We found out yesterday that David's grandpa has lung cancer, so it is great that Peter (David's Uncle) could be here. It's in times like these when you realize how important family is and to spend as much time as possible with them.
These are some funny things the kids have said:
Caroline and I went out to gather eggs and she says "Shhhhh Mommy, the baby chicks might be asleep."
Olivia and I were playing baseball and I said Olivia choke up on the bat, so she puts the bat over her neck!! We both started cracking up!!

School Days

The four-wheeler was my estate sale find. Awesome!

Sounds like everbody is back into the swing of school days. Everyone, but me! We're still working on the school room. I do plan on doing more with our homeschool coop this year, so that should be fun. They have classes every Tuesday and 1 field trip a month. I think Olivia is most exciting about bowling. It's not a class (I don't think), it's just a cheaper day at the bowling alley with the other homeschoolers.

Library Program

Slip and slid fun!

Amelia Badelia, she remined me of my Aunt Nancy

Singing Zoologist singing a song about Chimichangas

Colonel Travis

The Ventriloquist

We may live in a very small town, but we have an awesome little library! They put on a reading program this summer that included 3 days of fun activities and food. The first day Jo Libbly the ventriloquist, he was really good. Then we had a man impersonating Colonel William Barrett Travis. Today was the singing zoologist and Amelia Bedilia Story Book production. They were all very good, but I do believe the last two were the best. If you've never heard a singing zoologist you gotta hear one! This guy was hilarious. It was so much fun to see all the kids cracking up!

Fun Times

Working on the school room.
Nailing up sheetrock

Me at the Christmas in July Party, who am I supposed to be?

Caroline dressed up as a Christmas Present for my friend's Christmas in July B-day Party. She's not very cooperative when it comes to taking pictures!

Here we are: My friend, Edna, is a Christmas Tree decorated with "Christmas Story" decor, guess who I am, (no one knew at the party, grrrrr), snow princess, the Christams Present, and Olivia is a Christmas Tree.

Better picture of the Christmas tree.

Playing dress up with their friend Tessa today.

Olivia dressed up Caroline

Beauty and the Beast

Two Axis bucks fighting in our neighbors yard. (The neighbors were asleep and missed the whole thing. The neighbors are from Houston so they would have loved to see it. I was going to go call them, but I didn't want to miss it!! Some friend I am!)

Fishing in the River behind our house, Olivia caught a Rock Bass. She's our little fisher girl.

Going to "Beauty and the Beast." I forgot to take my camera to the show, so no pictures of the fabulous costumes! Bummer!

The kids and I went last night to see the play "Beauty and the Beast" with some friends. It was wonderful! The costumes were incredible! It's amazing how all the people fit their parts so well. The town that it was performed in is not huge, so I don't know how there is so much talent out there. It blows my mind!

P.S. I exercised 4 days last week. Eating was okay, could be better. I ate a hamburger last night and fries, but good news is on the way home, I barfed it all up!! YAY! (Not on purpose, I had a migraine)

Day 4

It didn't go too bad today, but it wasn't my very best day. See, what is it with day 4!! Oh well, I'll try to keep forging ahead.

Day 3

Day 3 went well. I'm trying to eat a lot of raw foods such as gazpacho and a new salad that I really like (I'll post my recipe) and I'm exercising. I'm also not eating sugar or simple carbs. I will eat brown rice and raw oatmeal (it's actually good with just some milk and honey, no cooking required). I've got some minor health issues and I want to teach my kids good eating habits. One other thing I'm trying to do is break bad eating habbits. One of my worst eating habits is standing up and eating right out of a seemingly endless container or bowl. Horrible! I also ate way more than I thought. I hope others will be encouraged. It used to be pretty easy for me to have the will power to lose wait, but now I do good for about 4 days and fall of the wagon. I thought maybe if I made myself post, I might do better. Thanks for the encouragement!!

The First

Olivia had her first visit to the Dentist yesterday. She had a baby tooth that would not come out and an adult tooth that was tired of waiting. The dentist wanted us to come in so she could take a look and she went ahead and pulled the tooth. Olivia was a little nervous at first and would not sit in the chair without sitting in my lap. The dentist told her (very nicely) that she had never seen someone so big acting so silly. Olivia got in that chair and did what the Dr. said and did not make a peep when the Dentist pulled it out. I've been waiting six years to have a toothless kid and finally have one! I love it! Olivia is nice enough to let me see her whole whenever I ask, which is probably at least 10 times a day.
P.S. Next time we will be skipping the Dentist visit and I'll yank that sucker out myself! That tooth cost quit a bit!
(I'll post pics later, David must have snagged my camera!)

P.S.S. Day 1 eating right and exercising went great, day 2 is going well too, just have to go walking later.

Getting on the Wagon

Okay, I think I am finally tired enough of being chubby that I am finally going to do something about it (again!)! Tomorrow I am going to start exercisng and eating right. Please ask me from time to time if I'm still doing what I set out to do. I need some accountability and maybe I can finally reach my goal (again)!

Hello Again

Hi everybody!! I guess I have gotten a little sidetracked over the last couple of months! Here's some of the things we've been up to:

In June, my best friend through a princess party for her little girl. She made Olivia and Caroline each a princess dress of their choice. Olivia was Bell and Caroline was Sleeping Beauty. Olivia is pictured with Cinderella in the top picture, Caroline was uncooperative, so you'll see no picture of her!

This summer we have also been very busy in our garden. The 2nd picture is of 1 picking from our corn garden. I believe we picked at least one other wagon full maybe more. We dug up our new potatoes a couple of days ago. They are so fun to dig up, the kids had a great time finding them.

The other thing we have been doing is swimming! It is really hot! here in south Texas, so it is a huge blessing to live on the River, even though it is quite low. Caroline is swimming under water very well! She is 3 1/2 so it is a hoot to see her swim in the river like a little fish. Olivia is also swimming some. They improve everyday! I almost forgot, Caroline wanted to jump of "Big Rock" ( Which is a rock in the middle of the river where my mom used to live. It's probably at least 20ft high). We climbed up the rock together, she got a little scared, but I grabbed her and jumped!!!! She says she wants to do it again, so that means it was not too scarey!!!

Elected Official Info

Please write or e-mail our elected government officials. Let them know what you think about the job they are doing. If we don't tell them what we think, then we are not using our freedom of speech and cannot complain when they take it from us. To make it easy, here's their addresses and e-mails:

President Barack Obama
The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave
Washington, D.C. 20500
comments@whitehouse.gov

Vice President Joe Biden
Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20501
vice_president@whitehouse.gov

U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
284 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
(sos)224-5922
http://www.hutchison.senate.gov/

U.S. Senator John Cornyn
517 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202)224-2934
http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/

U.S. Representative Lamar Smith
Kerrville District Office
301 Junction Highway, Suite 346C
Kerrville, TX 78028
http://www.lamarsmith.house.gov/

Texas Governor Rick Perry
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/

State Senator Troy Fraser
P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711

State Representative Harvey Hilderbran
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78769
www.house.state.tx.us/members/

Let's get serious and let's not let another day go by knowing that today we did not do anything to let our government know what we think! Please comment and let me know that you took the time out of your busy day to do this very important task. I'm going to go finish up sending out my e-mails right now, please do the same. If you have already been letting your government know what you think, THANK YOU for being responsible Americans!!

Urgent PRAYER Request

A friend of mine has a husband who was thinking about suicide. He instead has cut himself pretty badly and they are on the way to the ER. Please pray for my friend and her husband!!! Thank You!!!

Awesome TEA Party

I found this sign lying against the rock wall. It says "Why pay taxes politicians don't"

We thought this guy was really cool. It took a minute to figure out where his real bodies was. I didn't want to stare, but at first I thought it was 1 small person caring another small person in a box!

We went to the Tea Party at the Alamo, it was awesome! There were quite a few really good speakers. Ted Nugent is something else! He got me to understand to make a real difference we have got to make the phone calls and write the letters to our representatives, if we don't tell them what we want and don't, then we shouldn't complain! I plan to start using my voice and I hope their will be a lot of people doing the same thing.

There was 16,000 people there at the Tea Party! It was really incredible to be there and stand with everyone to say Hey Washington WE THE PEOPLE don't like what your doing! What's sad is The San Antonio Express News reported 5,000 people and a few dozen other protests around the country!! There were over 750 (maybe over 800) other Tea Party's around the country! I'm calling and complaining, I'm sick of the media and their lies!! Why can't they just report what's true, it's so frustrating!

If you have time, please watch at least the first video on my list. They played that at the TEA Party, it was really neat to watch it there, in front of the Alamo!