Three Curly Girlies

OMGoodness...

2011-07-15T16:48:00.003-05:00

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN? Had you given up on me completely? I even wonder if ANYONE is reading this?? I NEVER update this because it is so quick and easy to do little updates from my iPhone on Facebook. We are still blowing & going here (but not blowing as much as in Amarillo!). Spring kind of came and went in our house and I missed it. I had a little surgery on April 12th and had a few complications - I don't mind telling you about it but since most people know, I won't repeat it here (if you didn't, let me know) and that "simple, little surgery" just about kicked my booty! I was basically in bed for 4 weeks and then we found out that my mom had breast cancer...I basically went from being in bed (with many restrictions - couldn't even lift a gallon of milk!) straight to Fort Worth to be with my sweet mama. I was there with her to meet with Dr's, do tests and for her surgery - I stayed there almost 2 weeks and then came back for the last week of school. Precious Dave was a ROCK during all this and kept everything going, along with his wonderful family - without all of their support, we would have been in a heap of trouble. Basically, I was the DUD MOM for almost 7 weeks. Things are really MUCH better now - at least for me. I FINALLY have my energy back and am back in the swing of things. My sweet mama is doing treatment for a very aggressive cancer - she has done 3 chemo treatments and has 5 more to go and then 6 weeks of radiation everyday. She is still doing as much as she can & walks twice a day if she feels like it and goes to Cole's games. She got her a RED wig so she is a new lady at 72! Please keep her in your prayers...

The girlies all tried swim team this year and I am SO PROUD of them. It is such a big thing around here that we wanted to "embrace" what was important where we now live. No one could believe that they had never done Swim Team before. They could all swim but mostly underwater and certainly not all the strokes. Addi received the "Most Improved" award for her age group and has decided to do it year round. What GREAT exercise!! Emee decided that she really would NOT like to do Swim Team again and that is OK - she did Horse Camp and is now taking lessons each week. She LOVES it - can hardly keep that huge grin off her face after each lesson. So happy that we found something that she likes - crazy how she always picks the most EXPENSIVE sports! Kendie rocked the swimming too - she qualified for the "Championship" meet in 3 events and WON the BUTTERFLY - she cut 2 seconds off the qualifying time (which wasn't hers) and Dave said she was the last one off the boards. She will move up next year so we will have to work on that if she wants to do Swim Team again. She is wanting to do soccer again in the Fall so that will be fun too! Seems like we are finally getting back into our activities here - even though I have NO IDEA about getting her on a soccer team here!! Have to work on that...

It is hard to believe that we have been in Houston now for over a year. It sure has flown by! We moved into our house September 13 and are really enjoying it. Dave seems to like his job and gets to work from home 2-3 days/week. His boss has been so wonderful about letting him work from home during all this crazy spring...yet another blessing to help us through this time. We are loving being close to Dave's parents and his siblings & their families (except Shari :o( !) However, we do miss my mom! Seems like we have been able to visit with more friends coming through Houston and are loving that! I've especially enjoyed getting to meet more of the people from the Acoustic Neuroma Forum. I will also be on the PTO board for the elementary school next year in a position that requires a lot of work - hope I'm up for it!! I am hoping that I will make lots of new friends in the process!

We are going with all of Dave's family on a cruise and then Dave & I are FINALLY taking a trip...just the two of us...& it doesn't even involve a surgery or house hunting (kind of stressful activities!). We are going to the Dominican Republic in the Fall and I am so excited!

OK - so I think that has about got you all caught up...if you are still reading!! I'll TRY to do better about keeping up with this...of course, I think I said that last time...

HELLOOOOOO...

2010-12-01T10:41:00.002-06:00

I have gone from an OK blogger to a REALLY bad one!! Lots has happened...and I certainly have more time so I could update this more often but I just don't! I guess since I put stuff on Facebook and keep it updated, I forget to put it here too. Can you believe that Christmas is upon us again? This year...especially the last few months have gone SUPER fast!

The big news, in case any of you are reading this and haven't seen it any place else is that I HAVE SOME MOVEMENT in my face!! Yep, after 15 years and 2 operations (the last being 2.5 YEARS ago) something is happening in there! Now don't get too excited...it is not like my face is all of the sudden back to normal BUT, at this stage in the game, I am ECSTATIC about ANY movement!! The last surgery I had (the Temporalis Tendon Transfer = T3) connected tendons from my lip to the muscle in the jaw. Therefore, any movement that I had was a result of me clenching my teeth thus giving me a HINT of a closed mouth smile. I have noticed some strange fellings (even though I have no feeling in the right side of my face?) the last couple of weeks so the Friday before Thanksgiving, I looked in the mirror at a stoplight. Lo and behold, I could move that side of my mouth without clenching my teeth (or placing my tongue on the roof of my mouth like I did after the 1st surgery (12/7 graft) - even could move it with my mouth open!! I emailed my surgeon in Baltimore (love that man) and he emailed me back to say that it is very rare but could happen! I asked him if this was "supposed to happen because if so, I missed that part!"!! Again, it is not much - but I'll take it!! A few people have mentioned that I have been so patient...um...like I had a choice?? I can't believe that on the 12th of this month it will be 15 YEARS since I had my Acoustic Neuroma surgery! Time flies when you are having fun...even sometimes when you think you are not!! :o) LOL!

New Background

2010-11-01T19:05:00.001-05:00

Usually I do this while the girls are at school but tonight was different - I let them have input & this is what they picked!!

Two Songs...One We LOVE and One Not SO Much!!

2010-10-14T09:40:00.008-05:00

First of all, I have added a song to my playlist here...it is INTRODUCING ME and we LOVE it!! I know that it is from CAMP ROCK 2 (I haven't even seen it) & that is certainly not why - I just think it is a fun song. I heard it on Radio Disney when we were in the car. Part of the reason that I love it is because all the girlies sing it and it just makes us all happy. I love to hear all the girls be silly and sing songs - together!! It is our new favorite FAMILY song!

Now, onto the one that we DON'T really like...but of course, there is a funny story that goes with it! It is a song by Willow Smith (Will's daughter) and I am sure that she is a really nice little girl, but we don't care so much for this song! Now let me just tell you the whole story, and then I will tell you the name of the song, OK? The first time I heard it, I thought that it was just a bunch of obnoxious noise and that they just repeated the same phrase over and over...which is pretty much what she does. However, I kind of heard the WRONG phrase...I thought that she was saying "I WAVE my HAND back & forth" over and over. To be funny, I started frantically waving my hand in the air. The girlies laughed and so I thought that this was a funny thing and continued. It came on another time...and I waved my hand back and forth...all the time wondering WHY in the world that this was a popular thing to be saying!! Finally, about the 3rd or 4th time we heard it, Addi asked why I always did that and of course, I answered her that I did it since that was what she was saying (insert crazy look from mom to daughter - why else would I be doing that? ). It was only then that I looked on the display to see that the song is titled I WHIP MY HAIR BACK AND FORTH AND to see the incredulous, crazy look from my daughter to me!! :o) Needless to say, we have had a LOT of laughs over that! It reminds me of the time MY mom thought that they were saying "GREASEBRAIN" instead of "Freeze Frame" or my friend said her dad was singing "Oooh, I'm drivin' my WIFE away, lookin' for a better way, for me" - what funny things do you hear in songs??

PS - I have NEVER inserted links before & I think I did right on my 1st try - snaps for me!! :o) Well, too excited - sometimes they show up a different color & not the others...hmmm...what am I doing wrong? There are 2 links here to the songs...

I'm Back!!!!

2010-10-05T10:20:00.004-05:00

WOW!! I think this is the longest I have ever gone without making a blog post. Obviously, things have changed a bit in our little lives. We are in Houston now and are finally in our new home - it will be 3 weeks on Wednesday since the moving truck arrived. For the most part, we are settled in and able to go about our day to day activities (that are MUCH curtailed from the previous level before we moved). Of course, there are still boxes that I should be unpacking...but here I sit blogging. Isn't catching up with you more important anyway?? :o) Dave is at the office today, but is able to work from home 3 days a week so that is nice to help save on gas and toll. It will also allow me to sub some - I am only subbing when we know in advance so that we can plan our schedule around it. The girlies seem to be adjusting well to their new schools. I think that the biggest complaint I have heard (& why Kendie is NOT going there next year) is that they can't wear flip-flops to school!! Poor kid, even has to wear teenies to church on Wednesday nights! Addi tried out for the volleyball team (84 girls tried out for 24 spots) and made the "A" team! We are very proud of her as she has played vb a little, but has concentrated on basketball the last few years. Believe it or not, that is the only extra-curricular activity that anyone is involved in right now. Emee would REALLY like to take horseback riding (the stables are DIRECTLY behind our house behind trees but we can hear the horses) and Kendie needs to get back in gymnastics, but since our other house has not sold yet (PLEASE say a little prayer about that, OK??), we have decided to put everything on hold! Besides, I think a little time to settle in is a good thing! I have done some some volunteering for the middle school...well, actually a lot the first 2 weeks of school. [Did I mention that until our house was completed, we lived with Grandma & Grandad. It was a wonderful, special time (I hope they think that too!) but I drove the girls over to our new neighborhood each day so that they could start at the school that they would be attending...& I stayed all day so I wouldn't have to pay all that gas & toll to go back & forth. I rotated between WalMart, Target & HEB to use their restroom so that I wouldn't be the homeless lady that showed up on the same security tape everyday!] I have not been near as involved at the elementary school as I would like, but they just haven't called me. I signed up for everything, so I am hopeful that those calls will be coming in soon! Well, I better go get busy now...I think I heard the trash truck so I have to go wheel those cans in - no alleys and dumpsters here! I'll try to do a better job of updating...I promise!

Getting Ready

2010-06-14T09:45:00.009-05:00

Things have been VERY busy around here!! I am not even sure where to begin - I guess with Emee's adventures at the ER! One Saturday we were at a basketball tourney for Addi and Emee started crying & complaining about her arm - apparently she had hit it on a chair at lunch and then a little girl had kicked it at the bb game. She KEPT crying and holding it to her side...this is not usual behavior so we finally figured that we better get it checked out. We called our neighbor & he was just about to go on duty in the ER so he met Dave & Emee there. You gotta love that quick, personalized service! They got it x-rayed and put a sling on it for a "bad bruising," got something to eat and were back for the next game all in 2 hours!! The following Friday at 2:45, they called from school and said that Emee had been in the nurse's office off & on that afternoon complaining that her tummy hurt. I went & got her (by that time school was out) - thank goodness I took a bowl because before we could get to the Middle School to get Addi, she started throwing up. She got sick a couple of more times but nothing out of control: however, that evening while I was taking Addi to practice, she told Dave her SIDE hurt and her fever started going up. He immediately thought APPENDIX and started looking on the computer. We called our pediatrician and talked to the nurse and he recommended that we go to the ER. We called our neighbor - AGAIN - he had just got off but did call up there for us and expedited our visit and told us the specific Dr. that would be working with us (he was AWESOME, BTW). **Let me just say here 2 things: #1) needless to say, we are doing something special for our neighbor & #2) In 12 years and 3 girlies, we have made exactly ONE trip to the ER - ONE, I say!! - now we have gone twice in less than ONE week's time!! (& we might as well say that poor Emee has been the one to go all 3 times!)** Anyway, it did turn out that she had to have an emergency appendectomy that night around midnight (which does bring me to my burning question - is there ever an appendectomy that is NOT an emergency??)...poor girl but she was such a trooper! She is all OK now and got the "All Clear" from the Dr. a mere week and a half after the surgery! I think the girlies took me a little too serious when I told them that "we were not taking anything we didn't need to Houston!" - I didn't mean body parts!!
We were already scheduled to go to Houston that next week to "House Hunt" so my precious mom, who was already watching the girlies that last week of school, took on the added task of a little patient that had just had surgery. Dave left on Sunday and I left on Monday after Addi's Theatre Arts play (so cute!) and we hit it hard on Tuesday looking at houses and communities! We were finally able to narrow down an area and are building a house. We will be leaving on July 1st for an "extended vacation" at Grandma & Grandad's. We will leave all our furniture here until this house sells or we need it in a new one...of course, I guess if we don't sell this one, we won't get a new one! Please say a little prayer that our house sells fast! That brings me to the next craziness of our lives! We had to have our house listed in a certain number of days from when we signed to start the house so it would be "Contingent" so the minute we got home we started (I had done some "purging") getting this house ready to go on the market. I must say that it looks AWESOME and I am SO PROUD of all that we have done! The pics are up on the internet now so let me know if you want to look at them!
We went Saturday to OKC to take the girls to catch the bus for Kamp Kanakuk! Getting two girlies ready for 2 weeks away at camp is not an easy task...especially while trying to keep the house relatively clean so if they call at any minute to show it, you can! They left bright & early Sunday morning and we got home last night. Kendie doesn't even know what in the world to do as an only child. She has NEVER been with Mommy & Daddy by herself for more than a day! She has already written her sisters letters!!
Ok - that was a quick rundown, but now I feel like we have caught up a bit...how about you?

New Slide Show

2010-05-14T16:32:00.002-05:00

I left a few of the old pictures so you could see how the girlies have grown, but I added a whole bunch of new ones! Check it out...
:o)

MOVING!

2010-04-24T10:52:00.005-05:00

Well, once again it has been quite awhile since I have written here. We had quite the ordeal with Kendie & getting her tonsils removed. She did great & was eating by that Friday but then apparently got a virus. She woke up Saturday morning with 103 fever and the ENT on call "didn't think it was anything to worry about" even though the orders SPECIFICALLY said to call if her fever was over 102. Long story short, it got worse, then better but then she started bleeding on Tuesday afternoon - probably because she got so dehydrated from the fever. I rushed her to the Dr. - I looked like a homeless woman (at least I had taken a bath that day but wasn't planning on going out!) - and they immediately took her back into surgery. Seemed like all was well until Friday morning when her fever shot up again. Mom realized that she had big blisters on her tongue - poor girl, that's why she didn't want to drink anything. They admitted her back to the hospital to give her steroids and fluids (IV) - we were there for over 24 hours and then got to come home. Then she got sick again from all the medicine the next week and missed 2 MORE days of school! She finally was released from the Dr last week and started gymnastic back (after 5 weeks) this week...hopefully we are through with that chapter of our lives!

Following right on the heels of that, we found out last week that we will be moving to Houston after school's out. We have known for quite a while that it MIGHT be in the works so I feel like I have been living in limbo for months - it has definitely been a roller coaster! Dave is getting a promotion and I am SOOOOO proud of him!! However, moving away from here and all our friends and way of life was not exactly what I WANTED, but #1) I'm just so relieved to know something for sure & #2) I am choosing to embrace this and have a good attitude!! Really, I feel a peace about it because we had prayed so much for God to put us where He wanted us...I feel VERY strongly that this is where we should be going & that God has great plans for us! I am ready to find out what those are! I have told the girlies that this is our next great adventure!! Dave parents and two of his siblings live in Houston so we will be surrounded by family and I know that the girlies will probably be spoiled to death by Grandma and Grandad! My mom will probably eventually move to the DFW area to be near my brother and her cousins (life-long friends) - she will always have a room at our house and will hopefully visit OFTEN!! I have a LOT of PURGING to do to get ready for this move - I have started a little and have made LOTS of calls already to find out about different things! We could definitely use some prayers during this transition in our lives!

Spring Break 2010

2010-03-14T21:33:00.006-05:00

Spring Break is here - yesterday the weather was BEAUTIFUL. I got out & cleaned up all the dead stuff and leaves from our flower beds. It is always seems a little unfair to me that WE really don't have any trees (one in the back) but yet we have TONS of leaves...obviously they aren't ours! Oh well, I figure all the neighbors put up with our barking dogs and wild girlies so what is a few leaves! LOL! It is a little colder and is supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow. We didn't do much today - church, lunch with friends, NAP & then I went to the hospital to visit my little friend, Miss Trixie. I am so glad that it is Spring Break when we have the time change - I think it will be SOOO much easier on the kiddos (and ME!)! Kendie has her tonsils and adenoids out Tuedsday morning so I doubt we will be doing much other than trying to get her to drink and watch movies the rest of the week. We are hamster sitting and quite enthralled with the little guys...so much so that we are very seriously considering getting our own. We thought that we would wait until these have gone back to their owners, but now we may get ours tomorrow night to help keep Kendie's little mind occupied. I think she is getting really nervous. I put a status update on FB asking opinions - most thought that we were crazy but then others put they it was one of their fondest childhood memories. It may be something that we regret, but it sure will make our kids happy and make a memory! I'll have to let you know how that goes...Please say a little prayers for my sweet Kendie on Tuesday!

changes...

2010-02-15T18:00:00.003-06:00

I took off the word verification a while back because it is just easier for those leaving comments - I hadn't had any trouble until now! SO...back on it is and we will see how it goes...

this & that...

2010-02-02T11:04:00.002-06:00

It has been a while since I last wrote...I have no excuses, we were even snowed in our house for many days, but I just never got the urge to update this blog! Sorry to the few of you who do try to keep up! Kendie's basketball is going well - our last 2 games were snowed out so we will see when they are rescheduled. Our biggest goal has been accomplished - ALL the girls LIKE basketball now and want to play the whole game - they beg me to go back in. I figure that is the MOST important thing in the 1st Grade - instilling a love for the game! Addi is going to be playing on yet another new team when the club season starts back up. She has been going to some Sunday clinics - I watched this week and she is starting to LOOK like a player (more like HS/college girls than a 3rd grader that just kind of runs around) - she positions her body well and puts up her arms like a PLAYER! She is still much better at defense but her offense is really coming along too. The coach they had this fall REALLY helped her game and confidence a TON!! Emee got some new figure skating clothes from Grandma & Grandad (they're only ones that live in a REAL city with a skate shop!) for Christmas and the clothes seem to be making a LOT of difference - she is doing great! Apparently, she hasn't passed her Level 3 test yet, but is able to do some Level 8 skills - go figure!! :o) Dave & I have definitely noticed a change in her attitude towards skating...she is also more interested in skating and skate shows on TV.

It snowed here last week and it is still VERY much around (I haven't been out in it much the last 2 days because poor Emee is home with the stomach bug). We got ICE first and then about a foot of snow with drifts up to 5 feet deep! The worst is trying to get across streets that they have plowed but the snow is a HUGE pile in the middle. We had rain forecasted for Wednesday & Thursday but now they say FREEZING rain and then SNOW again...can't wait to see what the roads are like then!

I know this has been pretty boring, but at least I wrote something!! :o)

Day of Firsts...

2010-01-16T20:48:00.009-06:00

Today was Kendie's 1st ever basketball game! They did well and I was very proud of them, even though coaching 1st grade girls when they know NOTHING of basketball, is kind of like herding cats!! It is a good thing they didn't call walking, double dribble, running, double dribble...you get the picture. Kendie didn't play her best - she was just kind of out there, but I think you can tell by the pictures that she just doesn't look like she feels well. I guess it is back to the Dr. tomorrow - we are getting VERY good at going to the doctor on call on the weekends. I bet she has strep again - bet she is a carrier - if so, I will be talking to them about getting her tonsils removed. Could you tell that Kendie had been drinking BLUE Gatorade?

Another first today was that I did my first photography shoot. My friend, Nancy, told her granddaughter that I was getting into photography and so she and I went out and took some pictures. She was GREAT to work with and VERY patient with me. I think that we got some good shots and I can learn a lot when I go back & edit. Here's a couple that haven't been edited or anything. Thanks, Elizabeth!

We have another game tomorrow - wish us luck!

Old Friends are the Best Friends!

2010-01-08T19:04:00.002-06:00

I don't know if I have ever had a BEST friend (aside from Dave)...& contrary to what a lot of people would say now, I still don't have a BFF. I have always been blessed to be surrounded by a BUNCH of great friends and I have never wanted to single anyone out by saying, "Oh, _______ is my BEST friend!" I have some friends that are better than others and I have had friends that are really good friends for a "season" - I think that we should live everyday like it was our last & enjoy the company that is there with us right then!! This week, it turned out that I had lunch on three different days with 3 different friends/groups of friends and they were all wonderful! Obviously, I share interests with all these girls, but I think it is interesting to think back and realize how different they all are AND how different our "connections" are...however, I love them all and cherish the time that we spent together laughing and talking! The first was girls that I am on PTA with and we had just finished a meeting, the second was someone that I get along with great but have just recently started to hang out with because I am working for her with photography and the last was a very dear, longtime friend and my maid of honor when I got married. (Just as an aside, I had to stop writing so I could run to WalMart and get ketchup - Addi went with me & we had this whole discussion about friends because apparently everybody at school has changed friends because the new semester began & everyone's in different classes - kind of weird how all that was at the same time I was writing this!) The thing that prompted this whole entry is that we talk about different things with different people and I think it is all dependent on how well, & a lot of times, how LONG you have been friends. Today, my friend & I were discussing how different people hold pens/pencils...how dorky is that? I am almost 40 years old, I go to lunch with a good friend and we talk about how to hold a pen. We also discussed how you erase when you are marking with a pencil and you make a mistake - I personally just kind of twist it in my hand but I had a friend all through school who would lay her pencil down and then pick it up so that she could erase. When she finished erasing, she would place it on the desk again to grab the other end...not wrong...just different - kind of like all our different friends! At a pause in our conversation, I told my friend that that was one of the reasons that I loved our friendship because we could discuss anything and have a great time just being together. We got tickled when I said people would think we were crazy when they asked what we talked about at lunch and we replied, "Well, how you grip a pencil, of course!" BTW, how do you hold a pencil and how do you erase?? :o)

the day after Christmas

2009-12-26T21:20:00.002-06:00

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!!

2009-12-25T20:33:00.003-06:00

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!

2009-12-07T08:16:00.012-06:00

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

2009-11-07T09:31:00.004-06:00

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...

2009-11-06T10:13:00.004-06:00

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...

2009-11-05T10:31:00.004-06:00

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

2009-10-23T08:16:00.002-05:00

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

Busy Saturday

2009-10-17T13:44:00.004-05:00

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

2009-10-14T12:41:00.002-05:00

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...

2009-10-12T16:26:00.002-05:00

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

2009-09-12T13:36:00.004-05:00

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

2009-09-02T17:20:00.002-05:00

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

2009-09-02T17:05:00.009-05:00

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...

2009-08-27T12:54:00.002-05:00

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(

2009-08-09T18:11:00.003-05:00

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

2009-08-09T18:02:00.002-05:00

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!!

2009-07-27T10:52:00.004-05:00

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...

2009-07-08T10:07:00.004-05:00

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...

2009-07-03T18:32:00.002-05:00

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!

2009-06-23T12:02:00.003-05:00

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!

2009-06-18T09:29:00.002-05:00

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!

2009-06-15T08:41:00.003-05:00

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

2009-06-10T08:56:00.004-05:00

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!!

2009-06-02T13:29:00.004-05:00

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

BUSY, BUSY,BUSY!!

2009-05-19T08:04:00.003-05:00

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

2009-05-08T17:41:00.003-05:00

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

2009-05-06T11:35:00.001-05:00

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!

2009-04-18T12:28:00.002-05:00

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!!

2009-04-14T18:10:00.002-05:00

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...

2009-03-31T08:43:00.004-05:00

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

2009-03-29T15:38:00.004-05:00

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)

SNOW at the end of MARCH???

2009-03-26T12:46:00.002-05:00

Yes! IT is true, we are supposed to get 8-10 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow! I KNEW it was still going to snow this year! We are under a "Blizzard Warning" because the wind it supposed to blow also. I am a bit leery because all moisture seems to ALWAYS go around us, but since the chance is 100% I kind of think we will get something! We need the moisture SO BAD but we are supposed to have Kendie's birthday party Saturday so I hope we can still do that! It seems like something happens to her party every year! Poor girl...she always has the best attitude though! I'll keep you posted on the snow fall and hopefully have some fun pics!

Over...

2009-03-21T10:08:00.005-05:00

Well, Spring Break is basically over. We didn't do anything special, but just slept late and hung out at home a lot! The girlies have been playing in the backyard a lot and are REALLY into climbing trees these days! We did have a couple nights where we had people over for dinner. Kind of a very nice break, considering all the running and activities we usually do - at least a nice break for the Momma! :o) Our goals for this break were to learn to ride bikes without training wheels (E&K),tie shoes (E&K) and wrap a towel around wet hair (E). Addi is reading a great book again (love that we have FINALLY found her "type" of books) and we want to shoot some hoops - hopefully we will get that in today. Emee learned to wrap a towel and tie her shoes. It really wasn't her fault she didn't know how to tie - her shoes were all slip-ons - we went & bought new shoes yesterday that tied after she learned how. She had them on this morning when she got up and I thought she had slept in them but she said she had just put them on!! We will still work on the bike today hopefully. I tried to teach Kendie to ride a bike yesterday - we had done it ONE time at a friend's & she picked it right up so I thought that she'd get it - but she was SUPER TIRED. Anyone that knows Kendie knows that she goes and goes and then when she is tired, that is the end!! She said she wanted Daddy & Emee there and I told her that was fine! She almost has the tying down (she's at Mimi's now & hopefully they will work on that!). However, she did lose a tooth yesterday - #5. Dave & I celebrated our 15th Anniversary on the 19th. We went out to a new restaurant here and had a VERY nice dinner. WOW - can't believe he has put up with me for that long! Needless to say, we have had our share of interesting things to deal with in that time!! I love you, Dave!

Oh My Goodness...It's Been Forever!!

2009-03-13T08:52:00.003-05:00

Emee's skating recital was last Sunday. They did a routine to a 50's song so they dressed up in poodle skirts. She was VERY cute and did a GREAT job!!

Off again,,,

2009-03-01T13:09:00.002-06:00

I am once again trying to get packed to catch a plane this afternoon. I (notice the singular)am going to Houston to stay with Dave's mom and help out there until Friday. I think that I have all the plans laid out about who is picking whom up on what day and arrangements made! I feel like I am back in my teaching days and trying to get ready for a substitute teacher. I got good at doing sub plans and I guess that has come in handy for my home life!! I also have the girlies' teachers all e-mailed, laundry washed and groceries bought - can anyone think of anything I forgot? If so, you better call Dave!! LOL!! I know he will do a great job and everyone will be well taken care of!
On another note, we had a great trip to Abilene last weekend and enjoyed being with family and seeing old friends. Addi got an ACU sweatshirt that is VERY cute & that she loves (she is wearing it Tuesday for the TAKS test!) - never too early to start brainwashing them over good colleges! We had a wonderful lunch with our dear friends, Steve & Marilyn (aka "Banana Bob & Aunt Cherry) and were surprised that Alison & Chloe were able to join us too!! We need to spend more time with you guys - we sure do love you!!
Have a great week!! I'm sure I'll have stories after a week away!! :o)

Twice in One Week!

2009-02-20T11:00:00.002-06:00

Dave had already taken today off because we are going out of town again this afternoon and so we were able to go to breakfast this morning - TWICE IN ONE WEEK that we have been able to spend the day together (without kids)! We have not been out of town (ALONE)- except for surgery - in almost 3 years so we take ALL the little times we can get!! I better go get to packing!! Hope everyone has a great weekend! :o)

Presidents' Day

2009-02-16T16:13:00.002-06:00

Since today was Presidents' Day, Dave had the day off. The girlies had to go to school and so Dave and I were able to spend a VERY RARE day to ourselves. Well, we did take Emee to the Dr. but after that we took her back to school and then ran some errands and had lunch. It was so nice to just spend the day together - we just don't ever get to that! Dave was razzing Addi about her having to go to school and told her he would think about her when he was laying in bed and she was at school Monday (he told her this on Sunday) and her quick response was, "...and I'll be thinking about you ALL SUMMER LONG when you have to go to work..." - quick thinking! :o) I love you Dave!!

Photography class

2009-02-12T16:24:00.002-06:00

I am going to class here in a little while...yeah, the one that we have already sat through for 9 hours and have not even TOUCHED our cameras!! Can you believe that? It is truly amazing the things I have learned though...I won't even go there! I have made new friends and have taken some shots for homework that I would not even CONSIDER otherwise so I guess it is good. The best part is that Dave & I get to spend that time together (without kids) so even the trip to & fro is worth it!! Dave is in Houston for his mom's surgery (everything went well) today though, so he will not be going tonight. I am going to go with my new friend, Lauren, so that should be fun! :o)

Monday morning...

2009-02-09T08:45:00.003-06:00

Well, this will be another picture-less entry, but at least I am writing something down! We returned last night from Oklahoma City - we left OKC about when I was thinking we would get home but it all turned out alright anyway...It FINALLY rained here and was VERY windy (gust up to 40-60 is what they predicted ?)but the rain held off until we were one exit away from the one we take to get home. We were very thankful that we didn't have to drive in that the whole way! We had a great weekend with friends and got to watch 2 basketball games. That was the main reason for our trip - to watch our friends' daughter play ball. I was finally able to try out my new lens at the games - AWESOME! I got some pretty good shots and Courtney thought that it was pretty cool having her own personal photographer for the weekend!! We also went around the city & OU campus so Dave & I could get pictures for our photography class assignment. I would put some up here but they were of cityscapes (glad we were in a real city!), reflections of buildings and stairs - pretty exciting, huh? We did get LOCKED IN the OU stadium - that was kind of weird!! We weren't locked in too long before we found a gate that was supposed to be locked but the padlock wasn't "snapped shut" so we got out - it was still a VERY strange feeling, though! Well, I should motivate myself to go to the gym...don't want to...but DEFINITELY need to!! Happy Monday!

Too many activities?

2009-02-03T16:37:00.002-06:00

One of my friends, whose children are much younger than mine, asked me what I thought about kids & activities. Apparently, some of her friends were saying that they wanted to put their kids in activities EVERY day (& pre-school everyday) - their theory that if they were so busy, they would stay out of trouble. I told her that my kids had always been involved in many activities but not because I wanted to "keep them busy everyday!" We do seem to have something almost everyday now, if not multiple things, but only because the girls are at ages where ALL THREE are involved in activities. I have always let them try a variety so they will know what is out there AND I have commented that "I guess they will stay out of trouble because they are so busy," but it is not because I think they need to do more than is humanly possible. Would we like for each of them to have something to fall back on as they get older? Yes, I think it IS good to be involved in SOMETHING. However, I certainly would not force them into things that they are not interested in, just to be active. Unfortunately, there are not enough hours in the day (or money in our bank account!) to satisfy everything they would like to try. Part of that is because they know that Dave & I have always encouraged them to try new things so in their little minds they can try anything - I think that is a good thing! Do we have many activities? YES! Are we super busy? YES! But do we LOVE to be at home and do they love to come up with things to keep themselves occupied or play with neighbors & friends? YES! Does all that make any sense?? Hope a little...

A few pics I promised...

2009-01-27T15:47:00.004-06:00

These are just a few shots I took at Mom's b-day party and then with my new lens at Emee's skating. I was at the TOP of the Civic Center. They aren't too exciting but I liked her ponytail in the pictured when she "jumped" - she has improved SO much! The cross was made by Mom's dear friend, Delores. We worked together to get the jewelry to her without Mom knowing it - it is all of my grandmother's (who passed away in October)"costume" jewelry and then she put it all on the cross. She even lined the sides with old beaded necklaces. I am afraid that the photograph really doesn't do it justice - it is incredible and so very special to my mom! Thanks Delores for an incredible 70th birthday gift!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

2009-01-19T11:24:00.002-06:00

It has been a whole week since I last wrote here and we have been busy. I had Rachel again last week. We LOVED having her with us & will miss her! She was probably ready to be away from us - from me dragging her around to find party goods to us blasting the Mama Mia soundtrack and dancing through out the house - I'm sure she wondered where these crazy people came from!! Mike, Amy & their kids came in Friday night to spend the weekend going through Hi-De-Do's house - let me correct that - to START going through her house (honestly, I can't even begin to describe how much stuff there is...I'll start by saying she was a Charter Member of Precious Moments and had over 400 figurines - complete with boxes)!! However, the REAL reason they came was that we had a "surprise" 70th birthday party for my mom Saturday night. She had pretty much figured it out since family kept coming in, but we had a good time anyway. The service at the restaurant left a LOT to be desired, but overall, it was a good time. I have pictures that I will try to get up later. Speaking of pictures, I got a new lens for my camera (it helps when you work for a couple of weeks!:o)) and I am so excited!! It is a telephoto zoom so I didn't really get to try it out until Emee's ice skating lesson yesterday! LOVE IT! We are also very excited because our photography class starts Thursday night! Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Skating!

2009-01-12T08:24:00.002-06:00

Last night we had Skate Night with our church. I took my new camera and tried to take lots of pictures. I still don't know a lot about the manual setting so I just stay with the automatic ones. I am reading a book and hope to learn LOTS in our class (it starts on the 22nd). If some of the pictures look "foggy" - that's because it is - they had a smoke machine on!! We had lots of fun and I don't think anyone had to go to the hospital this year! Thanks to our church for providing us with such a fun night!!

The Last Few Days...

2009-01-08T09:54:00.005-06:00

Rachel & I have been getting along great (I think) and having a lot of fun. I think she likes me but I KNOW she likes it after 1:30 when we pick Kendie up!! Monday morning we pretty much stayed home and she looked at Kendie's new Wizard of Oz pop-up book - which she LOVES! It has "Emerald" glasses with it and she really likes them! We went to WalMart too - pretty uneventful! Wednesday, we went to Brush With Art and she painted a horse. She was going to do a bumblebee too, but got kind of tired so we decided to wait on that! She & Kendie played until it was time to get "the sisters" and then we got ready for Emee's ice skating. The girlies had LOTS of fun at the ice rink - LOTS more fun with Rachel than without! You can see that Rachel & Kendie just LOVE to be together! Also, here are some pics of Kendie with NO front teeth!

Long Awaited Slideshow!

2009-01-06T14:48:00.001-06:00

A big thank you to Leslie at Slide for getting this to load for me!! Here are a "few" of the pictures - we took a LOT since we were both playing with the new camera! I think that we hit the highlights - we did do a few things without the camera: lunch with people I have met on the internet that have also had Acoustic Neuroma surgery, our favorite Mexican food place (Lupe's - YUM!), Rockets game that they won in double overtime and probably much more that I am not remembering right now! Once again, thanks to Grandma & Granddad for making our week there wonderful and to Mimi for all of our great gifts here - the scooters were a HUGE hit!!!

I just pulled Kendie's 2nd top front tooth so I'll have to get some pictures of that! This tooth has been loose since long before Christmas (& the other one that she lost in Houston). I kept telling her that all I wanted for Christmas was for her to lose her 2 front teeth! I finally got my wish!

Update on Slideshow...

2009-01-06T11:02:00.002-06:00

Well, obviously I don't have a slideshow up yet, BUT can I just say that Slide has been WONDERFUL to work with?? "Leslie" has been helping me out and has been so great! She was able to put the saved information onto my account and so all of the time spent was NOT in vain. However, it is still giving me an error message when I try to post it. Apparently, it works fine when she does it but not on my end. She & I are getting to be great e-mail buddies!

On another note, the girlies are back in school. Addi is trying to get caught up after having missed the last week of school before the break. They all 3 seemed to have good days yesterday. Kendie feel asleep around 6:30 and the other 2 went right to sleep too - it's hard getting up at 7 when you are used to sleeping in! Yesterday morning, my new friend, Rachel, came over. She was just here in the morning yesterday as Dave had another little procedure on his face yesterday afternoon (he's OK). Today, her dad took off to hang out with her but the rest of this week and next, she will be with me while he is working. She is 18 and a real sweetie! Our big outing yesterday was to Wal-Mart - whoo! I will be taking pictures while she here and putting them up here so her mom can see what all we are doing while she is visiting. I know we are going to a have a LOT of fun! :o) They didn't get to be together yesterday, but Kendie and Emee are REALLY looking forward to her being here in the afternoons when they get out of school. Better run - hope everyone out there has a Terrific Tuesday!

Camera!!

2009-01-04T21:36:00.002-06:00

I don't think that I shared on here that I got that new camera that I was wanting for Christmas!!! SO excited! I actually got it a bit early & that is what I took the picture with for our Christmas card (that went out on New Year's Eve day!). Dave wanted me to have it early so I would have a little time to play with it before we left for Houston and Christmas morning. It is a good thing too since I have never had a REAL camera (SLR), I needed a few days to familiarize myself with it before I was consumed with trying to get toys out of packaging. (I have said it before but do they really have to make the toys so that you have to have a degree in engineering to get the doll out? Do they have that much trouble with theft of Hannah Montana's brush??) Anyway, it was one of the best presents ever - part of the reason is because I know that I will really put it to good use taking better pictures of the girlies' events - thank you to Dave and his parents for getting it for me. Dave & I are taking a photography class at the community college (starts 1/22) so that we can really learn the ins and outs of it all - I'll let you know how that goes! Did I say that I LOVE it & am so excited?? Now I am researching the best LENS for the money!! :o)

**I finally got a reply from Slide & they think they have put the SS on my account but I am too tired to even look at it tonight...hopefully tomorrow...**

More trouble...

2009-01-02T17:54:00.002-06:00

I spent a LOT of time day before yesterday making a slideshow of EVERYTHING we did over the holidays (I spent a bunch more time than I should have) & then it wouldn't work when I tried to load it on here. The WORST thing is that when I went back to my Slide account, they have NO RECORD of it!! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!! Anyway, we have the code that I copied & pasted (I had saved it twice) on another tab & have e-mailed the Slide people. I am hoping that somehow I can take that code and put it somewhere (where they tell me) so all my work is not lost!! Anyway, that is why I haven't posted - we are kind of afraid to do anything because we don't want to lose all that work!! Wish us luck!

Houston & Christmas Cards

2008-12-23T19:07:00.002-06:00

We are here in Houston and the kids are having a great time playing with cousins while Dave & I are enjoying being in a real city with good food!! I bet I have already gained 10 pounds! :o) Oh well, it is the holidays, right? All the adults went out to a little French restaurant last night and it was REALLY good and then tonight we went to our favorite Mexican food place here. I am stuffed!!! We took the girlies to the Children's Museum today and of course, they LOVED it. I will have to put up pictures when we get home. Along with that, I will be sending out Christmas cards...I worked like a dog before we left so that I would have everything I needed (copies of letter, stamps, etc.) so that as soon as they were delivered to Grandma's house, I could get them in the mail. Guess what? They were shipped (b/c I paid extra $$) to Amarillo. I should have caught that on the confirmation but since I knew I had checked Grandma's address, I didn't even think about it. It was my fault, made in haste, but still VERY frustrating. I hope they are appreciated more when everyone gets them...AFTER Christmas!!

Over the river and thru the woods...

2008-12-19T07:21:00.002-06:00

...to Grandmother's house we go! We are off this afternoon - our plane leaves at 5. I have laid our a few things, printed packing lists, and already had a bath this morning so I think I will make it. I haven't gotten a lot done as we have had a lot going on this week (we celebrated Christmas with my mom Wednesday night and had a b-day party to go to last night) but the main thing is that Addi has been sick! Poor girly! I didn't think she looked herself on Sunday - & didn't even go to a basketball clinic - but then I got a call from school Monday to come get her. She has run a fever everyday since - at least it is not as high (it was 104.5 Tuesday! - YIKES!) and we are going for longer periods of time between fevers. I hope my girly gets to feeling better soon - I feel so bad for her. Not only has she missed classwork and tests, but also her Christmas party at school and the birthday party last night! Gotta run - have SSSSSSSOOOOOOOO much to do - I'll try to post later from Houston!

Card or No Card???

2008-12-15T08:57:00.003-06:00

Well, I messed around trying to get the "perfect" shot...OK, I would settled for a just OK one...& now who knows when I can get the cards? I finally got a good one yesterday and then worked most of the evening (around watching the Survivor finale) checking it out on different card backgrounds. When I went to order them, I found out that unless I wanted to pay for express delivery - which would cost almost as much as ALL the cards - I might not even get them until Christmas day. DILEMMA!! Shutterfly usually gets stuff out much faster than they say, but I have never run it this close to the holidays before. (Well, except the year I sent out New Year's cards!) Anyway, then I said just scrap the whole thing. However, this morning I decided I would get them & send them out and people would get them when they got them!! I'm having them sent to Houston and I will just take all the stuff so I can mail them out from there ASAP. The girlies are just too cute (my opinion) NOT to share AND I have already received one card that said they love our annual letter and can't wait to get it. I can't let them down now can I?? Here is the preview of the picture and to all my blog friends, wishes of Peace & Blessings to You & Yours!

13 Years!

2008-12-12T15:50:00.002-06:00

Today as I was having coffee with some friends, I shared with them that 13 years ago today, I was lying on an operating table...and lying on an operating table...and lying on an operating table while my poor hubby (of just over a year) and our families had to sit in the waiting room for 14 hours! December 12, 1995 was the day I had my surgery for a "very large" acoustic neuroma. I have always said that I had the easy job - I just laid there! My friend reminded me that I would have to change the description of my blog. Even though I don't necessarily "celebrate" this day, it will be forever etched in my mind as a day to remember. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit nostalgic (mainly for my smile) but I am glad of the person I have become because of it and THANKFUL that I am here today & have such wonderful family and friends! I love you all and I know that I would not have been to make it through the last 13 years like I have if it weren't for each of you and how you have helped in my life. Thanks one & all!! Of course, the biggest thanks goes to our incredible Creator who carried us along when we couldn't make on our own!

Card Attempt & Christmas Party

2008-12-10T10:11:00.002-06:00

The 2 younger girlies were singing at the annual church Christmas party so I thought what a perfect time to get a shot for our Christmas card...but alas, I didn't get that GREAT picture (AGAIN). How come when I say, "Get together & smile" when they have on dirty clothes and wild hair, I get a GREAT picture, but when they are all dressed and pretty and I say the same thing, it turns into a NIGHTMARE and we all end up frustrated? So, who knows, you might get a New Year's card again this year...it has happened before!! Here is the best one but the quality of the picture is not as good as I would like. There are a couple of shots of the girlies on stage too.

Like the new background? It turned out better than I thought that it was going to!

Shopping & Researching...

2008-12-04T22:57:00.003-06:00

I have been spending all my computer time at home lately either doing Internet shopping or researching about a camera that I would like for Christmas. Whether I get it or not remains to be seen because I think what I want is too much money. However, anyone that knows me well, knows that I research the heck out of major purchases because I want to find THE BEST DEAL OUT THERE (yes, Kristen - I know you are laughing to yourself right now!). The latest was a new pair of shoes to workout in - I will say that I returned the 1st pair I got because I went to "one more store" to check prices and they had them for $50 less!! That's a lot of money to save when you don't care about last year's colors - just the performance of the shoe! Anyway, that has been consuming all my time when I am not out running the girlies places.
I changed the background again because they have so many cute Christmas ones and it is so easy to change. I love the colors of this one so I will leave it for a few days, even though some of the text is kind of cut off & hard to read! :o)

Have you ever?

2008-11-29T20:12:00.002-06:00

Have you ever...
Stole this from Jenn's blog...you copy and paste and then highlight the ones you've done...
Feel free to play along!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (as far as they will let you now...not the top :( )
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Ran a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving - but I was always planning to until I had brain surgery & they told me I couldn't!! :o(
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

busy...

2008-11-25T12:46:00.006-06:00

It has been a bit busy here (like it isn't usually?) with Addi's birthday and getting ready for Grandma and Grandad's visit for Addi's birthday (& Emee's piano recital). They got here Saturday before all the games/recitals and then left for Houston this morning. We (the 5 of of us & Mimi) are leaving tomorrow when Dave gets off work to go to my brother's in Fort Worth. It is our year to be here for Thanksgiving but we thought that a change in scenery would do us all good and since there is nothing (or rather no one) tying us here - we are off! I guess I should get up & get some laundry started so we will have clean clothes to take!

Update on Sophie...or umm...Sport

2008-11-21T07:58:00.003-06:00

So here is the update on the cat...I guess I wasn't very clear on my last post because when we decided to keep the cat, we brought it into the house. It's litter box is in the garage and it sleeps there, but it comes in the house in the day. One of the reasons Dave said we could keep it was that it was getting cold outside and he didn't want it staying out in the cold. It is a pretty good kitty - we had a few rough days there - it kept going to the bathroom on MY side of the bed (for me to discover a wet bed when I am ready to crawl in is NOT a pleasant thing!!). It started this when it was about to explode because the lid was on the litter box and the cat wasn't sure about that - HOPEFULLY we have that issue resolved now...after washing the comforter, blanket, sheets, and mattress pad on the sanitary cycle (glad I have it!)which takes 2 hours per load - 3 TIMES OVER!!! One of the thing I have realized is how grateful I am to have a front-loader washing machine so I didn't have to go to the laundry mat but HELLO...that was a LOT of time spent trying to get all that cleaned - time I could've have spent washing our clothing that we need EVERYday!! Anyway, on to more interesting things...you know the story of how Kendie immediately started calling the cat "Sophie"...I kept asking Dave if he was SURE the cat was female (I had my doubts) but since he used to work for a vet, I deferred to his knowledge. Well, he has decided now that "Sophie" is in fact, a MALE! Great, so now we have a transvestite cat with a collar that says "Sophie." At first, Kendie was in COMPLETE denial that it was a boy and continued to INSIST that its name was Sophie. We threw out MANY names, but finally settled on SPORT (short for Sporticus) because really, Sport could go either way on the gender scale of names...if we are still confused...poor cat, I KNOW it is!! We are still working on the whole dog vs. cat issues...I'll keep you updated! Always interesting at our house!! :o)

Addi's Party

2008-11-18T09:17:00.002-06:00

Birthday Party

2008-11-15T09:30:00.002-06:00

Remember how when they are little and you spend weeks planning the "perfect" birthday party, with all the NEAT extras that will make this the BEST party ever?? Well, I have done my share of that (especially with Addi's first few when the others weren't here yet) but yesterday afternoon I did the unthinkable....I planned a party for TONIGHT!! Yep - just over 24 hours! (Now I do have to pause & say that I did throw a quickie together for Kendie last year at McDonald's because all the sudden I was having that T3 surgery in Baltimore but that was kind of a special circumstance AND it wasn't this quick!) Addi's 11th birthday is Tuesday and I've discovered that is the age when they are just starting that whole awkward stage and not sure if they want a party or not. At breakfast yesterday morning I finally said, "OK, we HAVE to decide on this party thing." We had talked about just going taking a friend or two to the paint your own pottery place and then for ice cream - VERY low key. So yesterday when I picked the girlies up from school and was heading to Starbucks for hot chocolate (Fun Friday - we get a treat), I called one of her best friend's mom & was asking if we could take her to Brush With Art. All the sudden Addi said, "WAIT! I don't want to do that!" I about had a wreck - hadn't we just gone over that a few hours earlier?? I told the mom I'd have to call her back (good thing she my good friend & understands girls) and tried to calmly ask Addi what she would like to do. She told me that she would like to go Midnight Bowling (they turn off all the lights and certain things like the ball and pins glow in the dark-good thing!), which at least is something we had talked about before. We called the bowling alley and found out that they only offer that on Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday nights - thank goodness it starts at 8 - so we picked TONIGHT!! The most surprising thing is that all 3 girls are able to go!! Can you believe that?? I told the moms that I would come & get them and then we would probably go get ice cream or hot chocolate afterwards and then I would bring them home. How easy was that?? I told Dave about it after it was all done!! Maybe we'll have pictures later!! Wish us luck - I am a bit nervous about the bowling alley crowd at "Midnight Bowling" on a Saturday night!!

Spider-Girl

2008-11-12T08:35:00.004-06:00

No, this isn't a Halloween costume...it is the new name for my youngest girly!! Imagine my surprise when I rounded the corner the other afternoon to this sight...needless to say I was a bit taken aback!! Just in case you don't get it - that is the TOP of the door frame!! I don't think that it would have been SUCH a surprise if I had ever seen her "attempting" to do this, but I have NEVER seen her do anything close to this! Wonder what will be next??

Weekend...

2008-11-09T18:04:00.002-06:00

Even though we stayed busy this weekend, we didn't run around like we usually do so it was kind of nice! We only had 1 game yesterday - Addi basketball (25-4 we won) - and then Emee had figure skating. It was kind of more like last night - you know figure skating comes last in the line for the ice so we just have to take what we can get! We don't have a rink with ice year round so we can only have the ice when it is hockey season. In fact, there will be NO ice until the 1st or 2nd week of December - can you believe that?? It is definitely different than any sport the girlies have ever been involved in (& believe me, we've done a LOT!). It is very expensive, time consuming and COLD (freezing sitting in the stands for over an hour) but she told me again last night how much she LOVES it so that definitely makes it worthwhile!! Today after church we went to eat with some friends & then Kendie & I took a LONG nap - I think we BOTH need a nap once a week to make it through!! Addi had Cotillion (I've never known her to HATE something so bad!) & Dave was to be there with her part of the time to be her dance partner. I think it went "pretty" well. Emee & Kendie go to KidzPraize on Sundays so they are there now. I know it doesn't really seem like it to some, but this was an easy going kind of weekend for us!! :o) I think I am ready for colder weather now that we don't have as much going on (& soccer season is over!)...

New Family Member

2008-11-07T14:10:00.003-06:00

Well, we are getting quite the menagerie here! Last Saturday morning while we were sitting around lingering over breakfast, we started talking about cats. Kendie kept saying things about the cats that we used to have (even though there is absolutely no way she could remember them - IF they were still around when she was born) and calling one of them Sophie. I kept telling her they were named Petey and Macy. After breakfast, we all went outside (it was BEAUTIFUL day here) to shoot baskets in the back. After a while, the girlies moved to the front and guess what?? There was a sweet, little cat there. It was not a baby kitten, but not a full grown cat either. Dave said that we were NOT getting a cat and I was fine with that too. I love cats, but I didn't want to think about cat hair and litter boxes! Oh yeah and we already have 2 dogs and a fish...Anyway, later that afternoon when we returned from Addi's basketball game and the cat was still here, Addi had an opened can of tuna! I asked her WHAT she was doing with that and she replied, "Daddy told me to give it to the cat!" Hmmmmm...he did, did he?? Long story short, the cat stayed around - we didn't bring it in & it slept on the bench on our porch so Monday night when Dave came home, he said we should go to PetSmart and get supplies (& a collar) so we could keep the cat - it is getting cold, you know...Oh yeah, guess what the cat's name is? Sophie, of course. The girlies told my mom it was short for Sopaipilla!

Trick or Trick

2008-11-05T14:38:00.003-06:00

Here are the girlies getting ready to go Trick or Treating Friday night. It was kind of weird because it was so light outside since we had not had the time change yet. We started off really slow - as Emee said, "I have been keeping count & we have been to 7 houses & only got 1 thing!!" Things picked up...thank goodness! We had Hannah Montana, a kitty & Little Red Riding Hood! Our friends, Karen & David, were here from Oklahoma City so that added in the fun. We all had a GREAT time!

Alone in the Universe

2008-10-23T11:14:00.002-05:00

First, and most importantly, let me say that I certainly don't feel Alone in the Universe!! :o) A few years ago (I guess 3), we went to Houston and my nephew was doing Suessical the Musical with his school and we were able to attend. Kendie was 3 (or about to turn 3) and she LOVED it. The other kids loved it too, but she tried to sing the songs all the time. My sweet SIL sent us the soundtrack and we listen to it ALL the time (Dave finally told them they can't listen to it when he is in the car anymore - that is how much we listen to it!). It gets put up for a while and then out of the blue, Kendie will ask for it. Yesterday while we were waiting to pick the other girlies up from school, she requested it. Later, as we were driving downtown to take Emee to figure skating, "Alone in the Universe" came on. All I heard were 3 precious, little voices singing the words along with this song...I could hardly see for the tears (at least in one eye!) - it was the BEST sound in the whole, wide world!! I just had to add this song today!

Some new songs...

2008-10-23T09:14:00.002-05:00

I have been trying since BEFORE we went to Baltimore for my T3 surgery in March to change the music on this blog. I wanted to add "Good Morning Baltimore" - I thought that was pretty appropriate. However, I could not get the password to work and they would NEVER send me a new one (or address any of my concerns-NEVER heard from them) - I have been e-mailing them since March!! I tried setting up a new account, but since they already had my address - they wouldn't let me use that one again! ARRRRRR! I finally set up a new playlist a while ago using my mom's address (I knew she wouldn't be needing a playlist since she never even turns her computer on!!) and wrote the information down this time!! I never put it on here because I was so afraid I would lose everything. Well, now that I have played with adding stuff to the blog and know more how to do it - I switched it today! SNAPS for me!! Also, I have to comment on the little sign on the side. I love it and think it adds something (or I wouldn't have put it up here, would I?). I love what it says but the "Be Clean" comment cracks me up - why would they put that on there with the other stuff?? What do you think?

I became a STALKER...

2008-10-21T08:25:00.002-05:00

...in the produce section of WalMart!! Yesterday as Kendie & I were finishing up our shopping, I saw a lady in the vegetables with a half-paralyzed face. I kept pushing my cart around trying to decide if I could say something. I finally did because she could see that MY face was not right either - it wasn't like I was going to make fun of her or something! I asked her what happened to her face and she replied, "I had some surgery and this happened," and she kind of motioned towards her head. I then ask if she had a brain tumor and she said,"yesssss" and I said, "an Acoustic Neuroma?" Of course by this time she is really looking at me strangely but she answered yes and I said "ME TOO!!" I couldn't believe that just out of the blue I saw a new someone that had undergone the same thing as me! These tumors occur to 1 in every 100,000. We stood there talking for a long time (Kendie was SOOO good) and then we exchanged numbers. We are maybe going to go to lunch sometime! A new friend that I have so much in common with...did I mention she is 82? I guess that is a little difference, I don't think we will be raising our kids together or anything, but I was still excited!! :o)

2008-10-20T12:04:00.002-05:00

I realize that this is not the best picture in the world of us, but when I saw it, my first thought was, "Hey! My face doesn't look too bad here." You know what? I think that is probably the first time in almost 13 years that I have thought that!! Another thing is that my friend, Diane, (who took this at our Fall Festival at church) sent it with the message that said something to the effect that "there's a happy man!" I put this on the Acoustic Neuroma board and several other people made similar comments. Well, not only is he a happy man, I'm a happy lady and VERY blessed to have such a wonderful hubby who loves me and our precious daughters so much!! I love you with all my heart Dave!!

Hi-De-Do

2008-10-15T17:35:00.007-05:00

Many of you already know that my sweet Hi-De-Do went to Heaven last Thursday night. We had her services on Monday - as Dave said, even God was shedding a few tears for us as it was raining. I feel so blessed to have had her in my life for as long as I did. She was truly a Proverbs 31 woman. Not only is she going to get to spend eternity with the precious Savior that she served so faithfully her whole life, but she is whole and can say all the things she couldn't really get out for last couple of years. More important than even speaking is that she is reunited with her sweetie of 67 years! What an example to us all. My brother & I spent many a night, weekend, & weeks at her house growing up and I can honestly say that I NEVER had anything for breakfast but homemade waffles...EVERY SINGLE MORNING...and not only that, she had the Smucker's flavored syrup that was too expensive for Mom to buy at our house. She always had strawberry for me and blueberry for my brother! Also, she took us to every Benji & Herbie movie when it came out. Yes, we know that we were beyond spoiled! In her last years, she would always do the dishes after we ate. She stayed with us a lot when Mom went out of town and NOBODY could get the counters and sink to shine like she did!

I love you Hi-De-Do - you'll definitely be missed at our house!

Whoo-Hoo...FINALLY!

2008-10-07T21:46:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited! My friend had these cute backgrounds on her blog, but every time I tried to get to them, there were problems. Apparently, it wasn't just me as they have TOTALLY redone their website and before that they had a note on it that said to be patient with them. Of course, the 1st 500 times I tried, they hadn't put that up yet so I did think it was me!! LOL!! Anyway, I am very excited because it is super easy to change and when I get bored or it is a new holiday...WHA-LA!!

Busier than usual...

2008-10-04T20:36:00.001-05:00

Things are ALWAYS busy and crazy here, but it has been a bit crazier than usual. Tuesday afternoon we received word that they were transporting my 88 year old grandmother to the ER. She was conscious, but unresponsive, her BP was VERY high and she would not eat or drink. We think that she had another stroke and there was really not a lot that they could do for her in the hospital and so we took her back to the group home that she has been living in. They take INCREDIBLE care of her and we have been very pleased with having her there. We met with & set up Hospice care for her. She seems to still be aware of all that goes on around her and you can tell she tries to communicate with her eyes. They have been able to get a little bit of food/drink down her. Since my mom fell and broke her leg, we have kept her here with us most of the time so we can help her do stuff. She is unable to drive so I have been going back & forth between my grandma and the girlies - which I would have done anyway, but it takes a little longer with a walker/wheelchair!! LOL! We will make it, but please keep out family, especially my mom, in your prayers.

A WHOLE week??

2008-09-29T18:45:00.002-05:00

Where did time go? I can't believe that I haven't written in over a week. I had surgery on Tuesday morning and I guess that kind of took me out that day and then I took Wednesday really easy. I guess I am getting old as I didn't "hit the ground running" like I have before after these eye surgeries. Of course, I knew that I had the Hoedown on Friday so I had save my energy for that. I think all in all the Hoedown went well - I started setting up for it that morning at 9:30 and got home about 9 that night. Aside from the fact that we at least broke even, the best thing is that it is OVER!! :o) Saturday we had a soccer game in the morning and 2 volleyball games that afternoon. Sunday was church, soccer game and KidzPraize. Mom watched the girlies and Dave & I went out to dinner last night. Note to self: don't try to go out in this town on a Sunday night - we had already found out that everything was closed on Monday nights, but we didn't know everything was closed on Sundays too. We wound up eating at the 6th restaurant we went to (Chili's)...and it is right down the street from our house!! Emee told Dave that we needed to change our "Date Night" so we could go to a "Fancy Restaurant" but hey, you gotta go when someone offers to watch your kiddos!! Isn't that an exciting weekend?? I will try to put up some pictures tomorrow!

Wedding

2008-09-22T18:05:00.001-05:00

We went to our next door neighbor's wedding Saturday night. Aside from all of the feelings that it stirred in Dave & me, this was the 1st wedding we ALL have gone to in a LONG time. Can anyone tell what momentous thing occurred (that you can see in this picture)??

This & that...

2008-09-14T19:26:00.006-05:00

OK...so here are a few things that have happened within the past week or that I just feel like writing about!

KENDIE LOST HER 1ST TOOTH!! and already has another loose one! We should get a special deal from the Tooth Fairy for all the teeth we lose at our house!

Addi is playing volleyball every Saturday in a Power Pool. It is just this month and it is something that she is considering if she will pursue or not. Sadly, decisions have to be made at this age when your high school team is a major state contender every year! Those high school girls are "groomed" from the time they are Addi's age and are INCREDIBLE players. Already a group from Addi's school (her age/grade) have been taking private lessons for 2 years - can you believe that? It is VERY expensive to play - if this is REALLY what she wants, we MIGHT pursue it, but she really has to want to do it! We are still trying to figure that one out! She sure looks cute out there though! :o)

These are shoes that I was helping Emee get on today to go to the Dr. Unfortunately, she is sick - she has a stomach virus and an ear infection - poor girl. Back to the shoes...do you think we got our money's worth?? She wants another pair but I don't think that they have them anymore. I really think they are some Grandma got for her at Target. She just keeps shoving her foot in them because she just loves them - no matter that they don't fit AND are TOTALLY WORN OUT!!! So if you see this precious, little girl out dressed really cute with a bow in her hair and the most horrible looking shoes you have ever seen, you'll know she insisted on her plaid shoes!!

Job...

2008-09-05T22:16:00.002-05:00

I have been looking for a PART-time job now for a few weeks - not pounding the pavement, but definitely getting the word out, applying at a couple of places (to tutor with the school district), and making some calls. I have not heard anything positive BUT I am convinced that all this is happening for a reason. I'm not real sure what that is right now but I know it will all make sense later! I still need to have my eye weight repaired so maybe I need to wait until that is over and done with. I went to my regular eye doctor last Tuesday and now he is sending me to another - I see him a week from this Tuesday. In the mean time, I have been making pretty good use of my time (I think...hope!). Just in the past few days, I have spoken to 4 different people who were in various stages of the whole acoustic neuroma journey - 1 was just diagnosed, 1 is just researching options (even though she was diagnosed a couple of months ago was waiting for summer to be over), 1 had surgery in January and is just wanting to find out more of the recovery time-line (she is in Canada), & 1 was just having a crummy day - I'm not exactly sure how far out she is, maybe 3 months (she is the only other person that I have known of that has had her eye sewn shut). It is such a good feeling to know that I can maybe do a little to help someone go through something that I have. Unfortunately, that doesn't pay the bills, but it sure makes me feel good! I also am working trying to get the food secured for our Hoedown at the girlies' school and various other tasks for the 5th Grade Committee that I am in charge of! All that and then running girlies EVERYWHERE in the afternoons...& I wonder why I am tired?? Time to go to bed now... :o)

Dancing in the Rain!

2008-09-01T17:38:00.005-05:00

It actually rained here!! Can you believe it?? We couldn't! Kendie was the only girly at home as Emee was at MiMi's and Addi spent the night with a friend so she got all of our attention (that doesn't happen very often!). Dave had cut the grass and was about to push Kendie on the swing when it started raining - what a good Daddy - dancing with his girly in the rain. I'm sure it will be a precious memory with her Daddy that she won't ever forget!!

Kendie's 1st Day

2008-09-01T17:32:00.004-05:00

Kendie got to go to school on Wednesday. She picked out this dress at WalMart - I think that it looks very cute on her, but I would have NEVER picked it out for her. It just doesn't seem like her style! I'm still trying to figure that one out!! :o)

First Day of School

2008-08-26T09:01:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was the 1st Day of School here (as I think it probably was for all PUBLIC schools in TEXAS since they passed that new law last year!) We were SOOOOOOO excited - the girlies, not necessarily mom! - and we had really built it up that they would all be at the same school this 1 year. Even bigger than that, it was Kendie's 1st day of Kindergarten...and she was sick! She had to stay home!! I was so sad for her to have to miss it. Her teacher sent her an e-mail and told her that all of her new friends were worried about her. Her reply, "WOW! I already have new friends!" Thank you Ms. Rhonda for taking the extra time & effort to make her feel special! Another funny thing that she said the other day when I told her we needed to get her special ring that I have gotten for all the girlies when they go to Kindergarten so they know that Mommy & Daddy love them was, "NO! I don't want a ring - I KNOW that y'all love me!" Ok, well I guess that'll save some money...I have to go now as I have a very impatient little who wants to play Noggin.com!!

Last Day of Summer...

2008-08-22T10:55:00.002-05:00

Today is the last official day of summer - of course, we still have the weekend before school actually starts on Monday, but today is the last weekday. I think that the girlies are very excited and ready to start, but I can honestly say I'm really not. I have never been one of those mothers that is ready to get them out of the house because she "needs a break." I truly enjoy spending time with my girlies. Yes, there is the occasional times when I wish they wouldn't fight or squabble, but overall we have a lot of fun just hanging out (I think). We were on the go so much this summer that I never even heard "I'm bored!" - I do think it helped having them brainstorm & make the "I'm Bored" jar and come up with the consequences if they said that too much - but we NEVER used that once!! We have to run to WalMart to get a couple of things for school. I pre-ordered the supplies this year which was nice except some of the things are kind of weird - Addi's "pencil bag" is really a red bank (money) bag - I am NOT going to make her use that when everyone else (who purchased their own supplies AND the others w/ mothers like me) will have a fun, cutesy one! Also, I tried to make sure of the brands on the list (some brands do just last better than others). Emee & Kendie's markers are Crayola but Addi's is some weirdo brand that I have never heard of & the last time we pre-ordered they didn't work but a week. I want to pick up the stuff NOW while it is on sale! I think that we are going to the pool too for the last time this year this afternoon. We had a great time in San Antonio. It didn't rain until Monday as we were preparing to go to the airport. It was really overcast the other days, but that didn't stop us so the girlies really enjoyed the Lazy River. Dave & I both got massages - heaven! Emee had another birthday party and finally got the much coveted Hannah Montana wig!! I'll get pictures up later! The last day of summer is slipping by me...

Hyatt Hill Country

2008-08-15T07:42:00.003-05:00

Today we are leaving for our last get away before school starts. We are going to the Hyatt Hill Country outside San Antonio to meet up with all of Dave's family. There are usually 25 of us when we all get together, but I am afraid some will be missing as they will be wrapping up summer jobs or heading off to college. Still, the HHC will not know what hit them, I am afraid!! Last time we went, when my MIL went into the little snack shop and was charging something, she heard one of the ladies behind the counter say to the other, "This is the REAL Mrs. ****!!!" That is scary!! Believe it or not, I have most of the packing done - just not in a suitcase yet - we packed as we watched the Olympics last night. WHOO-HOO!! Way to go AMERICA and especially Nastia and Shawn!! OK, funny story: Last time we went to the HHC (we didn't go last summer), we were all in the dining room at breakfast. (You just kind of throw something on and tumble in because you change into your bathing suit right after that & spend the whole day at the Lazy River.) I saw a girl a couple of tables over and kept thinking that she looked familiar - I decided that she must have gone to college where I did because I just couldn't shake the feeling that I knew her. I was about to get out of my seat to go over & ask her if I knew her from school when it hit me who she was. It was Mary Lou Retton! HELLO, how stupid would I have felt if I had made it over there? She would've thought that I was just some groupie thinking I had a good line into meeting her! We saw her on the coverage last night and I told Dave that I guess we wouldn't have to worry about her being at the HHC this year! Also, I told Dave that I bet public high school had started or will start before Shawn Johnson gets back and I wondered if she would get an excused absence for missing the 1st few days? Dave said he wondered if she would have to have a Dr.'s note or if it was OK that the WHOLE WORLD saw her on TV instead and knew what she was doing!! LOL!! I was so proud of them both! Well, I better close so I can go get a few things done and then it is off for a couple of days of just floating around in the Lazy River, playing on the sandy beach, enjoying family, and hopefully some time for the big girls at the SPA!! Thanks again to wonderful grandparents who do everything that they can to provide times for their family to stay close, connected & involved in one anothers' lives! Pray for SUNSHINE!! :o)

Sad Day

2008-08-14T14:17:00.002-05:00

I went to the funeral this morning of my dear friend, Ernestine. While I KNOW where she is and how much she is enjoying being free of her earthly body that had failed her in so many ways, I still am very sad. The thing that bothers me the most is that 3 different people have told me how much I meant to her and how every time that they went to visit her, she asked about me and told them how much I meant to her (even her sisters from out of town mentioned me to a lady from our church last night). I am privileged and honored that she held me in such high regard - I couldn't ask for a better compliment - but I feel that I failed her by not taking more time to be with her or visit her these last few months. Dave reminded me that we have had a busy (& physically demanding) few months, but what about before that? and all the other stuff I have made time to do? I know, I know, I have a family to take care and that she totally understood, but I still feel like I should have done more for her...:o( I have learned my lesson - I will try to do better about "seeing" to people and taking time for others. I seem to have a special place in my heart for the "more mature" crowd at church and maybe it is not just enough to go up & check on them at services and give them a hug - I might be the one they are looking to for a little more. Who knows? I just know I want to try to make more effort because I don't want to feel this way again! I will miss Ernestine's sweet spirit - she was beautiful inside and out. She always had a twinkle in her eye and I know it radiated her goodness from within. I only hope that I can be a fraction of the LADY she was - truly a woman of Proverbs 31.

8-8-08

2008-08-08T09:15:00.003-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMEE!! Today is Emee's 7th birthday and we are having her party tonight. It is a Hannah Montana party - I hope that it is "the best of both worlds!" It was supposed to be a backyard party, but I think it will be inside now as it is supposed to rain. Needless to say, we have to "pick up" and the girlies are not real happy about that! I hope to have a lot of pictures to put up after the party. Our camera was "misplaced" for a while so now that it is "found" we can have pictures again! I hadn't thought yet about how it was 8-8-08 - I'm really into thinking that dates like that are neat, but just hadn't thought about it. I am also SUPER excited about the Olympics, but didn't know that 8 was such a special number to the Chinese. Once again, you learn so much in the mornings at the gym!! Of course in my case, just watching the news is so beneficial - I just never do that - I can honestly say that I haven't watched TV at all this summer (except the news at the gym). Poor Dave, he will once again be an Olympic widower!! I LOVE the Olympics!! Actually, maybe he will watch more with me - I think he likes the Summer Games better than the Winter. Kendie has already watched some swimming trials with me so they "will help her be a better swimmer!" Incidentally, I wrote a post about us surviving our Family Reunion in Oklahoma, even though it was 106 degrees (HOT, HOT, HOT!) but I lost the post and didn't feel like writing it again right then! Kendie fell in the lake but remained calm & swam to where my cousin was & when he pulled her out, she said, "Sometimes those things happen..." We weren't outside right then - she had been on a walk with an older, responsible, adult cousin and Kendie didn't come in & tell us they were back - just went to the dock to fish...NOT what she was supposed to do! Anyway, I found out much later that she kept her fishing rod in her hand the whole time - just swam with it!! I think that is so funny! Dave had been concerned how the girlies would do in the water with their clothes on...guess we know one girly will remain calm, cool, and collected!! Better go get busy! Have a good 8-8-08!!!

Weekend

2008-07-31T22:00:00.002-05:00

We will be going to Oklahoma tomorrow for my Family Campout. It really isn't a campout anymore, but I guess it started that way. Now we stay in a big "lodge" that accommodates us all. The girlies LOVE it and it is good to get to "catch up" with everyone. We usually have it in September, but are trying it before school starts this year. More people from farther away are getting to come, but I am afraid it is going to be VERY hot!! I'm sure I will have LOTS of pictures next week!

Trip to Baltimore

2008-07-28T12:18:00.008-05:00

Addi & I went to Baltimore (a couple of weeks ago now) for my check-up with Dr. Byrne who did the T3 surgery for me on March 28th.
He was VERY pleased (as am I) with the results, especially since I had so much trouble. He said that I probably lost a couple of mm's since we had to reopen it and said that they could "tighten it up" but I think I will stay away from the OR for a while! I will follow up with my eye doctor here about readjusting my weight as it seems to have "slipped." Even though this is surgery, it should be no problem - I have had it done 4 times already with no problems except bruising (I don't feel that side). He did say that I have some synkinesis - this is usually something that people are NOT happy about, but I am ecstatic! After having NO nerve movement for 12 years, I am happy about ANY movement - even if is not the desired movement. This surgery had NOTHING to do with nerves so there is really no explanation as to why I have nerve movement now. It is not too terrible - just a little movement of the corner of my mouth when I blink. I forgot my camera so Melynnn let us use hers and was a wonderful photographer for us! We had a BLAST with her - now she is a favorite with Addi too! WE LOVE MELYNN!! Thanks for driving us around and letting us stay with you!!
After the Dr.'s appointment, we went to ride the water taxi and hang out at the "Harbor." We also went to Port Discovery which is a great Children's Museum.

By the end of the day, Addi could hardly walk - I guess we succeeded in trying to think up activities that she would enjoy! The next day we slept in and then went & had a picnic on the campus of Johns Hopkins, went to Charm City Cakes (the cake place in Ace of Cakes on the food network - they won't let you in w/out an appointment and their cakes now cost $1,000!!!), IKEA (blast), shopping, to eat, and then to see Kit - which we all 3 LOVED! Here are a few pictures (I told you Dr. Byrne was a hottie! - he should be on the new show "Hopkins")!! There is also a great picture of Dr. Byrne at www.doctorbyrne.com

Up and Running...

2008-07-25T16:33:00.002-05:00

We are finally back up & running after having our DSL disconnected for over a week. YES, we did pay the bill...it all started when I got a new iPhone (big splurge, but I LOVE it!). We wanted to switch all our services to the same name so we could "bundle" it together - part was in Dave's name and part in mine. No one told us that if we switched the DSL the would have to actually DISCONNECT our service and we could be w/out for up to 15 days!! Crazy! If you change on PHONE service with AT&T, they can switch it on the computer so if you want to change - change the name on the phones - MUCH easier!! Dave finally was able to straighten everything out last night after I had spent, literally hours, on the phone every day with AT&T. Just glad I have Internet back! I will update more later about all our travels and my Dr. visit...

Fun in the Sun with Cousins...

2008-07-12T22:09:00.004-05:00

We went to Southlake to visit my brother & sister-in-law last week and had a GREAT time staying at their house and hanging out in their pool! The cousins had a super time just being together and playing in the pool and with the Wii. We also went to two of my nephew's baseball games, but I don't have any pictures of that because I took a bunch with their camera and haven't received any from them yet..hint, hint! Addi and her cousin went to volleyball camp each morning and enjoyed that and Amy & I visited & caught some rays!! Thanks cousins for a great time!!

Laundry

2008-07-05T17:58:00.003-05:00

As I have stated before, my dryer is still not running. HOWEVER, I have decided to feel good about the fact that I am more GREEN since I am hanging my laundry out instead of drying it all in the dryer. Hopefully our electric bill will be a lot less this month - we'll see. Maybe I can at least off-set it a little from the AC boost in the summer months. I think that I will leave the line up, even after we get the dryer fixed. It is really not that bad! Of course, we'll see how long this "back to basics" lifestyle lasts when I can just throw wet clothes in the dryer AND once our hectic lifestyle kicks in when school starts! Wish me luck! :o)

Backyard Camping!

2008-07-04T12:07:00.004-05:00

The girlies have been wanting to "camp out" in the tent for a while now. Yesterday was a VERY cool day since it had rained the night before & Dave didn't have to get up & go to work today so we did it! We played "Go Fish!" for a while and then all bedded down. I made it until around 2:30 - I had been awake since 1:30 (& off & on since going to sleep). When Dave put the 2nd air mattress in, he put the plastic side up by accident so I kept "sticking" to it every time I tried to move. I decided it was silly to stay out there when I had a comfy bed inside! I knew we were having people over tonight & then watching fireworks late so I didn't want to be too tired! I'm glad I went in, glad that the girlies had so much fun, & even more glad that they have a Daddy that makes everything so fun for them!! Happy 4th of July!!