the day after Christmas

Well, I still have on my PJ's from last night...I didn't do anything today but read, do stuff on the computer and play 'Words with Friends'! It was so nice not to have to run all over getting girlies to different lessons and practices! Not that I don't cherish my job as chauffeur but a break is welcome! Tomorrow, we don't have class at church so we will get to sleep in a bit before worship. Then we don't have anything until sometime Monday when my "crazy long-haired friend" from college is in for a short visit! I will have to turn the guest room back into a room instead of a walk-in closet/wrapping paper room but that won't be too hard! So excited about his visit - he hasn't been here (& we haven't seen him) in about 5 years. We were just moving into out current house when he was passing thru last - literally moving in! Tuesday evening we are spending time with my dear friend, Melynn, from Baltimore! Can't wait to catch up with her too! Our Christmas was wonderful & we were blessed beyond what we could even imagine - both of our parents really surprised us with their generosity! They girlies were spoiled by everyone (including Santa) too and are VERY happy with their presents - hopefully I'll get the pictures downloaded tomorrow!

Merry CHRISTMAS!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
I have tried for days to load our pictures that went on our cards ad don't know what the trouble is...I'll keep trying!

Super Long Time, No Post!

WOW!! Once again, I can't believe how long it has been since I posted...all I can say is that we live a SUPER busy life. I also think that since I have started writing stuff on Facebook, I update there more than on here. There have been so many things that I wanted to write about and post pictures, but I just haven't. A big one was that Addi decided to be baptized - we went to Abilene to a special spot on the ACU campus (she TOTALLY chose this on her own) and it was a very sweet time with family and friends. It was VERY spur of the moment so a lot of our family wasn't here but were able to call & talk to her, so that was good. Addi turned 12 and we had her whole basketball team (9) over for a birthday/team slumber party. OH MY GOODNESS...I have never heard such noise in all my life - it is a little different when you have active, competitive girls as opposed to girls that like to paint their nails and watch movies! We went & spray painted some cars (you're allowed to do that), chalking and silly stringing and then we came home where they played Truth or Dare (from an iPhone app) and I taught them Spoons. I think they all had a good time.
We went to Houston for Thanksgiving and were able to be there for almost a week. The girlies, especially Kendie, were SO EXCITED to get to spend time with their cousins from California. Kendie and Eliot are only 3 months apart in age and truly have a special relationship! They were able to play outside almost the whole time and Emee and Kendie FINALLY decided to ride bikes WITHOUT training wheels! I was a bit worried about taking the girlies out of school early (an hour Monday & all day Tuesday) until we were at the airport Monday about to board the plane when Addi said, "We watched Robin Hood in Language Arts, Elf in PE & Wall~E in Art today..." Great times were spent with family there - we had 29 for Thanksgiving (only 5 were not part of our actual family) and 27 for breakfast on Saturday morning for Grandad's famous biscuits! We flew out of 75 degree weather to snow...what a change! I did my first wedding Saturday as a "2nd shooter" - I was SUPER nervous but think I got some good shots. That was really all I was hoping for - my friend was the main photographer and I was just the icing on the cake trying to get some good ones at different angles. I am thinking of pursuing my photography a bit more and am talking to another photographer about helping her out and LEARNING more...we'll see how that goes.
Still haven't gotten the tree up this year, but I do have most of my shopping done...at least all the big or impossible to get things!! Better run...I have to go make copies and then an Area PTA lunch - I won't even bore you with the after school schedule - it is CRAZY! Stay warm, everyone - it is 16 here without the wind chill!

Just another crazy Saturday

Just another crazy Saturday at our house...today marks the end of the Fall soccer season. Honestly, I can't say that I am too sad about this. Aside from the fact that since the time has already changed and we are unable to practice, I just don't feel like I have done justice to the team that Dave & I are coaching. We just got off to a really bad start (found on a Monday and first game was THAT Saturday & already had a jam packed week so we only practiced once) and have one girl that is a big challenge and makes it very hard to coach/teach the ones that really listen and want to learn. I realize that it is a lot like teaching, but with teaching, you have a little back-up and at least you get PAID!! :O) We are lucky in that we have a GREAT group of parents (most of the girls are great too) who have been very supportive and kind and, I think, are just glad that someone is coaching so that their daughters can play. Kendie's last game is today too - she is on the same team that she has been on every Fall and Spring since she was 4. They are really good for their age and have a superb coach (who also came & helped Dave and me out - kind of the deal if we coached but he sure didn't have to) who has 2 older soccer playin' sons and is really big in the soccer association - you can see his love of the sport and the girls in every game & practice. They have been the Princess Barbies (yes, I drive around with a pink sticker that says that on the GIRLY van!) but are currently in a name crisis - I bet that will settled in the next few seasons and maybe they will pick a more "fear instilling" name!! Emee has ice skating today and will miss the warm-up but since there is hardly any ice time this month, we want her to get what she can out of it. Thank goodness, MiMi is willing to take her down there (Dave & I will be playing coach at the end of our last game & didn't feel we should run off this time). The ice skating lesson ends at 3 and that is the same time as Addi's basketball game. We will race home & Addi will change so we can get her to the gym by 2:30. She is doing better & better at BB, but still having trouble catching the ball. She may just be a fumble-fingers like her Mama, but we have an appointment to get her eyes checked & talk to the Dr. on Monday afternoon. She wears glasses for far away and I am wondering if she isn't able to see the ball from far enough away to track it properly and catch it - I'll let you know about that one!! Off to get things moving for today...have a good one!
Next up, coaching 1st grade girls basketball...now that is a sport I HOPE (think) I can do some justice to!! Only time will tell...

Attic...

I have thought about writing this post for a long time, but since I haven't written anything on my blog in a while, it just stayed in my mind! Here it is...what do you think about your attic? I'll admit first off that we have a LOT of junk up there that we just move from house to house AND that most of it is mine and not Dave's! HOWEVER, we do have some things that it has been good that we have been saving. An example would be the big box of SHOES! When soccer season came around this year, I went up to the attic to search thru the shoe tub and got out a pair that I thought would fit Emee. Since this was the first time (except the one season when she was 4 & HAD to play) she has really played, I also wanted to get her something new - not just all of her sisters' old hand-me-downs (I try to be sensitive about that since she is smushed in the middle). Off we head for Academy before her 1st practice to get her a new ball. She was SO PROUD of her "new" soccer cleats (helped that they have PINK on them) and shin guards. When people commented or even glanced her way, she told them, "I got my new shoes from the ATTIC!" What I am wondering is since she said it with such gusto, are people running out to try to find the new store in town called "The Attic"? Doubt it....
Next story: We got these PRECIOUS outfits that a friend of mine in Dallas is having made. They actually are matching outfits for American Girl dolls but are much cheaper than thru AG (contact me if you are interested!). Anyway, Emee's is black with zebra print ruffles on the bottoms of the pants and top and has hot pink embellishments. While I was digging for the soccer cleats, I came across a pair of Hanna Andersson hot pink clogs that were practically brand new. Guess what? They match the outfit PERFECTLY. At church that Sunday, one of my friends asked me how I got the shoes to match so well...I replied, "Oh, I just went to the ATTIC!!" (hee, hee) If you know me, you know that I LOVE a bargain and I love it even more when stuff like this happens and I can get GREAT outfits put together out of what we already have. Next time she wears it, I'll try for a picture! Just the other night I frantically went up to the attic to look for shoes to go with Halloween outfits...yep, found one for each of the girlies. These were shoes that still had the tags on them that my SIL had given me. They missed Addi (that size/season thing) but kept them and they are finally going to get some use! LOVE THE ATTIC...& yes, someday I will clean it out...BUT NOT TODAY!! :O)
Have a good weekend!

This & That...

Well, once again, it has been a while...what can I say but Life Happens!! Soccer is finally ending this weekend - the parents asked if we would be coaching again. Probably not - I don't think that I do soccer justice and only agreed to coach because no one else would do it - hope someone with more knowlegde & skill will step up to the plate. I will be coaching Kendie's basketball team - those sign-ups will start next week but we have a little break before we start practices or games. I am really excited about this for many reasons: 1) I LOVE basketball and it is what I have coached (in MS) before & 2) they have NEVER done BB before - it will be a challenge but I think it will be a HOOT at the same time! After watching Addi's age, I REALLY want to start these girlies off with a very solid FUNDAMENTAL base. I am not the best coach and I wouldn't be effective at older ages, but I think the one thing I can contribute is my knowledge of good, strong basics! I'll let you know how that goes! Addi is still doing basketball - she has learned SO much from her new coaches (& has lost SO much weight - she certainly wasn't fat, but has toned down a BUNCH - she even got out a belt (which she HATES belts) because she couldn't keep her pants up!)! We are very proud of her as she is doing great in school and really learning time management with LOTS of homework and practices. Ice skating is going well - Emee will be skating at one of the breaks at a hockey game December 19th so they are working on that routine. OH and I forgot to mention that our little SpiderGirl has FINALLY landed a round-off back handspring on the floor...I wonder if the threat of no more gymnastics helped? Please don't think I am a mean mom about that - she could do it but "lost it" and wouldn't even try, thus the threat! She will probably start competing when they start that up again...IF SHE wants to. The other day when Kendie was frustrated with gym, I heard Emee say, "Kendie, don't you want to be in the Olympics anymore?" We have lofty goals at our house apparently!
Off to get ready for another PTA meeting...only the 2nd this week!
Have a good one!

Emee

Here are some pictures of Emee playing soccer & figure skating...seems like she is really getting the soccer thing these days...

Busy Saturday

Everyone is realitively well now and we are off & running. We had soccer games at 9:00 and 11:30 - thank goodness that the wind wasn't blowing too much so it wasn't too terribly cold. Dave has Emee at figure skating (he is such a sweetie to take her whenever he can because I get SOOOOO cold & then can't warm up for the rest of the day). Addi has a basketball game at 5:00 and then we are done for the day. We are working on closets and the house since it has just kind of run amuck this week with all of the sickness.

Here is some pictures from Kendie's soccer game. She fell down and the ball wound up between her legs. The best part though was that she got up, stuck with it and went on to score on that one. (They all take after there mom and have trouble staying upright!) She made 5 goals today and played really hard. Emee did a great job too but I don't think we have those downloaded yet - she seems to be getting it more and is not as afraid to engage & get the ball. Hopefully Addi will have more energy today (we fed her steak last night) and have a good game!

Better

2 down, 2 to go...Addi and Emee went to school today and Dave & Kendie are still home. I was getting REALLY concerned about Dave yesterday, especially last evening when his fever was 102.5. Thank goodness it responded to the asprin and then his fever finally broke in the night - first time it had been below 100 since Sunday! He is still not feeling great but at least he is in the den instead of bed today! He even took Emee to school this morning. I about had a heart attack when I woke up at 7:43 and knew that 2 girlies were supposed to go to school this morning! Sweet man, since he was feeling better, he had let me sleep in and he had her all ready for school. I had forgotten that since it was Wednesday, Addi doesn't have to be to school until 8:45 (really messes with the mind every week) so I took her later. She was a bit anxious about going in - I think she felt OK, but just had that "I'd rather stay home" feeling. She knew she is going to have LOTS of make-up. One of the intermediate schools had so many kids out yesterday that they had to go down to ONE lunch period!! I certainly don't blame anyone for this...it is EVERYWHERE! Better go check on the 2 puny ones...

I WILL NOT GET SICK...I WILL NOT GET SICK...:O)

SICKNESS...

Here I haven't updated this in so long and here I have to write that everyone is SICK! Everyone, that is, but me...even Dave. They have all tested negative for the flu but have "flu like symptoms" - from what the Dr. said, the test is only 60% accurate anyway. I think that it would be safe to say that the flu has descended on our house! It seems to be EVERYWHERE - there is just no stopping it. She (Dr.) said for us still to get our flu shots - WHEN they get more in, that is! Please hum & chant with me...I AM NOT GOING TO GET SICK...I AM NOT GOING TO GET SICK...
More later from the quarantined house...

Emee's 8th Birthday Party

FINALLY, I was able to put together Emee's slideshow from her party. It was the BEST party! They dressed up, had pedicures, got their make up done, cuppies, presents, & had a style show! The girls LOVED it. Thanks Grandma & Grandad for the best present EVER - Emee LOVED this party!! This is kind of long and not 1/2 of the pictures that we took - since they did everything for us, all Dave & I did was take pictures!

Background

I guess I am past the stroller days but I still liked this background & what it said (thought that the black was pretty cool too) so I will go with it for a while!

First Day of School

Emee - 2nd Grade
Kendie - 1st Grade
Addi - 6th Grade - First Day of Middle School
My Three Curly Girlies
I am just a little behind, but if you follow this much or know me...that is not unusual!! :o) I can say that the last 6 days have been consumed with poor Kendie being VERY sick...poor thing had a BAD virus and high fever from after school last Thursday until last night. Yesterday, I took her BACK to the Dr. for another strep test (it was negative again, but her throat had really started hurting) and they are now treating her for a sinus infection also! HOPEFULLY, she will get to go back to school tomorrow. Remember last year she missed the first 2 days of Kindergarten?? Anyway, here they are:

Dentist...

I have SO much to write about the last few weeks & even a lot of pictures but today I just have to get down about my dentist visit this morning. Back at the end of school or first of summer, part of my tooth chipped - not just any tooth, but the BACK of my FRONT tooth (on the side I don't feel). Since it was on the inside, I couldn't really see it but it felt (with my tongue) like a big chunk! This is EXTRA annoying because a) I was SO afraid I was going to become a "toothless" person & b) it was on the side I don't use and it just burns me up to have to spend all that money for something I can never use! Anyway, when I went for my cleaning, my dentist said he thought he might be able to fill it (YEA!) which he did today and it did not break off & cause further problems. So that was a little background...here is the REAL thing I wanted to post about today!

OFTEN, I get the question after someone has been to the dentist "IS THIS WHAT YOUR MOUTH/FACE FEELS LIKE ALL THE TIME??" This question does not bother me at all - in fact, it is nice that people think of me! :o) Well, I really thought about it today (as I was coming out of that AWESOME Happy Gas induced float) and the answer is NO! Yes, in a small way is it because if your face is REALLY asleep, then that is kind of how it is for me since I have ABSOLUTELY NO FEELING on my right side. However, where they put the shots, that side of my lip felt super big and like I had a fat lip (swollen) and that is NOT how the right side of my face feels! Does that make sense? Anyway, just thought that I would address that! Keep the questions coming - I don't EVER mind them.

PICTURE THIS: A girl with NO feeling on the right side and NUMB on the left - obviously I am not trying eating or drinking any time soon!! LOL! I'm HUNGRY too and I have yummy green chile sour cream chicken enchiladas left over from dinner at church last night calling my name too!!

Girlies Gone Again...:o(

The girlies are gone again...this time to Camp Imani and the Hyatt Hill Country with all of Dave's family. They flew out yesterday to Houston to Grandma's house and then they will drive to the camp outside of San Antonio. They should be GOOD GIRLS this year since they will have spent so much time at Christian camps all summer!! I know that they will have a great time and more importantly, they will get to spend a LOT of time with almost ALL of their cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents on that side. Dave & I will not be joining them at the Hyatt this year and we are very sad to miss out on time spent with the family. We will be going instead to the National Acoustic Neuroma Symposium in Chicago. We waited and waited to make our plans because it was the same weekend as the Hyatt trip usually is and then we got word that we WERE NOT going to the Hyatt this year (too many college age kids returning to school that weekend) so we made all of our reservations. THEN everyone figured out that it could work but it was too late for us as we had already booked and paid for everything. We are so thankful that our kids will still enjoy time with family THANKS GRANDMA & GRANDAD!! We are VERY excited about Chicago though as neither of us have ever been there and it will be the first time in 3 YEARS that we have been on a trip ALONE - except for a medical procedure!!

New Background

Ok...I don't really like this background either but I couldn't find anything I liked - even ones I had used before. Hopefully soon they will have some cute, new designs...until then, I guess this is it!

dancing in the rain - all 3 girlies!!

We have had an unusually wet summer, but it hasn't rained when the girlies could get out or when it wasn't lightening! Addi commented that she had never gotten to dance in the rain so we waited until EVERYONE was home - NOT an easy task! Last night was FINALLY the night! It was fairly late and obviously dark but I was still able to get some good pictures AND keep the camera dry! I know that these will be priceless memories that they will keep with them always! :o)

4th of July...

Here are a few pictures. We didn't take a ton before the show because we were too busy getting everything ready. We got some OK ones of the fireworks but since we were so far away, they aren't super good...since we can watch from our house, we don't go fight the crowds! We are cheapies & did not buy any this year - really I can't tell you the last time we DID buy some!

Nothing...

I just realized that I haven't posted for a while so I thought that i better write something. Really, I don't have much to tell and I couldn't think of a good title...We are trying to get all the clothes put away from camp. You know, camp is really a LONG process - you get all ready, names in clothes, figure out 14 outfits (x's 2 girlies), pack the trunk, yada, yada,yada...and then when you get home it is MAJOR laundry - not just any laundry but VERY STINKY laundry!! When we were at the camp, I wondered why Emee's laundry bag wasn't very full - then I thought that it was because many of her clothes were still clean (?) but now that I am trying to put outfits together, I see that we are definitely missing LOTS of pieces. I am sure everyone in her Barn took something home with them as a reminder of my sweet girl. One thing was given to us that was in Lost'n'Found and so far one thing has been sent to us from the camp - wonder how much more they will find? I went to my sweet Hi-De-Do's house today to help do some work to get it ready to go on the market - I made Addi go with me and help. I worked on cleaning out a section of the yard that was a little lean-to that Pappop used to keep his lawnmower under - there were MANY other things that he had put there (I figure he was going to something with & then his health just got too bad) and then vines & weeds had grown over it. I had to pull out the vines and then drag out all of the "stuff" that was under it. Thank goodness it didn't seem as hot today - I think it was because the wind was blowing. Addi mainly carried stuff to the dumpster - from inside & out. When we got home, Dave had done the yard and I planted a few plants that I had gotten to "fill in" where plants had died or suffered too much after the last hailstorm. We are going to grill out tonight and then tomorrow I am fixing a brisket with all the "fixins'' & having my mom and a couple of families over. I am also making homemade ice cream. After we eat, we will walk down to the corner & watch the city fireworks display. You can see it from our yard, but better from the corner! What will you do this 4th of July?

Going to Get the GIRLIES...broken AC!

Here I sit trying to think of what I need to pack to go get the girlies from camp and a couple of days in Branson. When I packed the girls for camp, I did not pack for the days AFTER camp so I trying to figure out what they have and what I need to take. Plus, I need to pack the least amount of stuff as possible because we have their 2 trunks and laundry bags filled with dirty, stinky laundry to get back!! We have a Honda van that has that "well" in the back so we should be OK with the trunks, but still not a lot of room for all our stuff (Dave, my mom & me). I have already bought the super HOUSE Renuzit air fresheners to stick in the back with the stinky laundry!! We will drive to OKC tonight and then on to Branson tomorrow for the Closing Ceremonies - I am READY TO SEE MY GIRLIES!!

Other news, I am sitting here waiting for the air conditioner repairman to get here...YEP, our AC is not working! Thankfully, we have 2 units and the one that cools our bedrooms is still OK so the night wasn't too bad but we certainly don't want to come home to a miserably hot house since it is supposed to be between 96-100 while we are gone! I have just been praying over and over that it is something that can be fixed easily and INEXPENSIVELY (we just bought a new frig, by golly!)! Oh...he is here - gotta go! Have a good rest of the week & weekend everybody! Oh yeah....when we return from Branson, I will turn right around and leave the next day to drive to Abilene to pick Kendie up - can't wait to see that girl either, but at least I have been able to talk to her on the phone and thru iChat!

Week without GIRLIES!

We seem to be surviving just fine without the girlies here. Monday night we went to dinner and to see a movie. YES, we went to the movies! We never go to the movies because when we do get to go out (which really isn't that often), I would rather spend our time together TALKING and being together, then staring at a screen! Anyway, we saw "The Taking of Pelham 123" - being that we never see movies (unless they are Disney!), I thought that it was really good. My only complaint was the language - I am not some Pollyanna Prude (even though some would disagree! LOL!) and know that people talk using curse words sprinkled in their language (even if I don't). I can certainly understand & deal with the APPROPRIATE use - and I understand that this situation would definitely bring that out. HOWEVER, this was just a deluge of the "F bomb"! Anyway, I enjoyed the story and suspense! Tuesday, we went for a quick bite to eat and then to our new photography class - oh my goodness! We actually took our cameras out and looked at them - even snapping some pictures to see what they did! (For those of you that don't know, Dave & I took a photography class from the same CC during the winter semester and NEVER ONCE took our camera out!! It was the BIGGEST waste of time - but at least Dave & I got to spend time together!) I think we already learned more in this one class than in 18 hours last time! The teacher is very funny and personable too! Last night (between the crazy storms), Dave ran a few errands and I got a PEDICURE (major treat for me) and then we met up for dinner at the newly reopened Bennigan's. Tonight we are going to dinner with some friends from church - I know it will be fun! I am keeping Rachel during the days so I am not just laying around eating Bon-Bons! I try to think of things that would be fun for her since the girls aren't here to play with her. Yesterday we went to eat with her dad and Dave and then I took her to Brush with Art to paint - today we are supposed to go swimming with some friends IF the weather cooperates!

Oh yeah, I am putting up a picture that I took the day the girlies were playing in the Slip'n'Slide - I am VERY proud of it!!

The one thing I forgot & you can't buy it at Target!

So in my last post I talked about packing the girlies and not worrying as much about Kendie because whatever I forgot, they could just run to Target to get...well, yes, in theory that is correct EXCEPT the MEDICAL RELEASE & INSURANCE CARD that I have so diligently left EVERY TIME we have EVER left our children. Of course, it has never been needed - AT ALL - not even a sick trip to the Dr....until NOW! Yes, Saturday night I had just talked to Grandma to find out how everything was going (she & Eliot had just arrived that day). They were having a big cookout with everyone with hamburgers, homemade ice cream and swimming and Kendie was having a ball - we wished we were there too - all was well! Then just a few minutes later, my cell phone rang & it was Leah, "Aunt Kay, I'm just calling to let you know that my mom and Grandad are taking Kendie to the ER..." YEP - minutes after Grandma and I hung up, Kendie was getting out of the pool after jumping off the diving board and her foot slipped on the ladder and she hit her chin on the side of the pool! Poor baby! Of course, the first thing I said when I heard was, "OH NO - all she wanted to do was swim in Grandma's pool for 2 weeks!" My next thought was, "Oh my gosh - I didn't send a release or insurance card!!" I knew that if Aunt Kathy thought that they should go to the ER (she's a nurse) that it probably would result in stitches. Thank goodness, they were able to use superglue and steri-strips so she will be able to swim today or tomorrow! I talked to her Saturday night and then again yesterday and she sounded fine - she is such a trooper! Grandma & Grandad altered their plans for Sunday and they went to the Downtown Aquarium instead of going to a swimming party and all was well. In fact, I could barely hear Grandma Sunday night for all the the little girl giggles in the background!! :o) Kathy said that it should heal OK and not scar - I hadn't even thought about that! She reminded me that of course we have to be diligent about sunscreen this summer on the scar and I told her that I thought I could handle it - I know a few things about BIG scars on the face!! ;o) Oh yeah...did I mention that in the last 23 years with 14 grandkids - aside from sickness - Grandma & Grandad can't remember ever having to take a (bleeding) grandchild to the ER (can anyone else in the family?) - we are so proud to be the FIRST at something! :o)

Crazy Day

As I sit here waiting for the new refrigerator (yes, our refrigerator practically blew up - NOT a good sign when you hear, "Dad, why is the refrigerator so HOT? It burned me when I touched it!"), I have a 100 other things I SHOULD be doing, but if you know me at all or have read this blog very long, you know that I specialize in PROCRASTINATING, especially when there is something BIG to do...like say, packing 3 curly girlies for camps for 2 weeks!! Hee, Hee! It will all get done...eventually! My niece flies in tomorrow to take Kendie back to Houston with her on Friday (thanks, Leah!). She is going to "Camp Grandma" for two weeks - we will drop them off at the airport on our way to Oklahoma City. Grandma is also getting my niece from LA - she & Kendie are 3 months apart and BEST BUDS! They will have Grandma & Grandad to themselves the WHOLE time - pretty neat when you stop & think that they are grandchildren #12 & #13 out of 14! I haven't even started packing her yet, but since she will be with Grandma and they can run to Target if I forget anything major, I think it will be OK. Also, since she & Emee share clothes and I have to have 14 outfits for Emee, I have to get her done 1st and poor Kendie gets what is left! I told Grandma she might be washing every night - at least all her clothes are GREEN (her favorite color) - she will just have 1 load! Addi and Emee are going to Kanakuk for 13 days and they are VERY excited - this will be Emee's first year and she is just beside herself! Addi has pretty much gathered all her stuff (it helps when Mom has already purchased everything thruout the year). Today I will teach her how to iron the labels in her clothes - she has been a GREAT help with Emee's stuff and with advice about camp in general! I have started getting Emee's outfits out and other stuff so I think we will get that done too - just have to get all her stuff labeled too! I am taking care of my friend Rachel also this week and next. She & the girlies (especially Kendie & Emee) are having a GREAT time. I actually would probably be having them do more if she was not here, but since this is their only week together, I have kind of just let them play. She is going to be lost next week when she is stuck with just me - I am sure we will find something to do!! We are supposed to go swimming today but it is cloudy and actually sprinkling a bit right now - hope it clears off! Well, they just called and are on the way with the frig so I better go...is it right to be so excited about an appliance?? I think so now knowing how much refrigerators cost these days!! Happy Wednesday everyone!!

SUMMER!!

Pure, utter summer fun! Can't say much more...

BUSY, BUSY,BUSY!!

WOW! I can't believe how long it has been since I have written here! It seems like we are blowing and going 90 miles an hour trying to finish up school. I think that everyone is in the same boat! I have not been good about reading others' blogs but caught up on a few this morning. I found out that my friend in Bulgaria was MUGGED - how horrible! However, mostly the ones I checked had not been updated so I don't feel quite so bad! I feel like I am in good company! We got a new computer a few weeks ago and I absolutely LOVE it, but it seems that I haven't figured out a simple way to read the blogs like I used to. I tried to convert them over to the new computer, but a lot of them were lost and I need to contact my friends to get the addresses again! I don't know if it is the new computer or the fact that my "FRIENDS" got me playing Farm Town on Facebook - it is hard being a successful farmer and running after 3 girlies!! I really think that is it just running from one thing to the next! Addi played in a basketball tourney this weekend (she did great!) and Emee had a piano recital (she did great too!) so we had a busy weekend (glad that soccer game was changed or we would've had that too!). Grandma & Grandad were here from Houston so they were able to see all the activities as well. We had a WONDERFUL visit with them - we LOVE it when they come! Better go for now - I am going with my mom and friend to work on Hi-De-Do's house today - we are having an Estate Sale on June 5th & 6th and still have a LOT of work to do.

Coal Miner's Daughter

OK...first of all, I have not completely lost my mind with the addition of the classic Coal Miner's Daughter. Instead, I am one of the best friends on the planet because it is a tribute to my very good friend, Vicki. She is absolutely obsessed with this movie ("classic" says she) & song. Please enjoy the music! Also, she thinks everyone will comment that they love this song too...I am wondering about that logic?? Truth be told - I have never seen it!! GASP!!

Feed the Dump People

Check this out and please support this wonderful work if you can!
http://www.treymorgan.net/2009/05/feed-dump-people-day.html

K

Incredulous!

OK...I can't even believe that they cancelled our soccer game AGAIN!! This was supposed to be the 4th week of the season and we have yet to play a game! The 1st week, the games were cancelled because of the blizzard and all the snow. The 2nd week, they actually cancelled them because of the WIND - yes, you know it was REALLY blowing if they cancelled in this town where the wind blows all the time - we had gusts at 60 mph that weekend! Last week there were no games since it was Easter. Now, this morning I get up early to get everyone ready for our 9:00 game and right after I got up, I got a text from the coach that they had cancelled, yet again, because the fields were still too wet after our little storm on Thursday night (when we were supposed to have had practice!). Of course, I wasn't too sad about getting to go back to bed - No one else was up but me anyway! Supposedly the game is still on for tomorrow afternoon - we'll see! I'm not sure at this point if Kendie even knows what a soccer ball is!! I'll let you know! :o) Have a great Saturday!

YIKES!!

YIKES!! I didn't realize it had been 2 weeks since I last wrote here!! I was busy getting ready for Kendie's birthday party and then I got sick that night & was sick for the rest of the week. We left last Thursday for Houston for Easter (had a WONDERFUL time!) and just returned last night. I have LOTS of pictures I need to post...I'll try to get to that! Just wanted to let you know that we are still alive and kicking!! :o)

Treadmill and 1 Year...

Well, this time last year Dave & I were in Baltimore and I wasn't feeling, OR looking, too hot!! I had the Temporalis Tendon Transfer (T3) done at Johns-Hopkins performed by Dr. Patrick Byrne on March 28th. Even though I had complications after I returned home and thought that was a nightmare (see last year end of March and April), overall, I am VERY pleased with the outcome. From a perspective of losing weight, I almost wish I was back not being able to put anything in my mouth except a straw again!! Not really...Emee asked me the other day, "Mom, weren't you supposed to have that surgery to fix your smile? (YES) It didn't work out so good..." Well, from her perspective, I guess it didn't - she was thinking that I would have a TOTALLY normal face again. BUT from mine, I am overjoyed about ANY movement I have gotten back!! Since my face has looked funny her WHOLE life, she is used to it not working right and she is too young to see the little changes. Thank you God for still working miracles in our lives today - I believe that God gives Dr.s the knowledge and ability to perform "modern day" miracles every day...let's always remember to give God the glory for ALL that HE does in our lives!!

On another note, I RAN on the treadmill yesterday...I know that doesn't sound like that big of a deal, but for me, it was. I can run on the ground and I can walk on the treadmill, but I couldn't ever let go and run on the treadmill. It had something to do with the dizziness and insecurity - I just always knew I would wind up on the floor like a cartoon character with the treadmill flapping away and making horrible tread marks on my face!! :o) Last week, I decided that I was going to do it - thank goodness, I knew I should not attempt this without help!! I talked to one of the trainers and told them that for my safety AND the club's, I would like for him to be there. We couldn't work it out last week and I kind of forgot about it, but when I walked in the gym yesterday, he asked me if I was ready. He went with me and straddled the belt and helped me - he said I looked great (I think I was really worried about this - I am so vain!) and I was doing great until I tried to stop it! When will I learn that anything that involves JUMPING or HOPPING is probably NOT a good idea for me?? I decided to "hop" to the edge to stop and I don't really know exactly what happened but thank goodness he was there to catch me! I'm sure all the other gym-goers were wondering what we were doing!! We decided that it would be better for me to wean down the speed and then stop!! Again, not a huge accomplishment for others, but a big deal for me - a first in 13 years!! Well, I have procrastinated as long as I can...time to head for the gym again!

PS- I put some pictures on here - this is not the best "after" but I like it and that is what truly matters, I guess! I have requested my official "before" and "after" so I hope I might get those up here later.

Snow '09

I tried to do a slide show lst night with animoto and couldn't ever get one I like so I will just put up a few pics the old fashioned way until I have more time...when that would happen, I wouldn't know, but one could hope!! :o)