Bright Sunshiny Day

The Best Kind of Day....

Have I mentioned before how much I love Mondays?

After a busy weekend (which are not my favorite!) it's nice to ease into the week with a quiet Monday.   

The girls and I had a productive school morning - got everything accomplished that was on our list.  Grammar? Check. HIstory review? Check.  Math facts? Check.  Bible? Check.  After school, all three kids settled down to create masterpieces with water colors.  One painted a cake, one painted a rainbow, and one painted "hot coffee!" for his beloved mommy.

Lunch was equally unexcitng, and entirely predictable...turkey sammies, baked cheetos, apples....and then some after lunch entertainment named Curious George.  There were toys played with today, dress up dresses worn, and a pretend game of "Boxcar Children".

Outside playtime, a nap for the Super Bubbie and then dinner.  We capped off the day with our favorite Busy Cake from the red and white cookbook and a walk around the neighborhood with the dogs.

Quiet and peaceful.  Just the way we like it.

Tap, Tap, Tap.....Is this thing on?

You know the old saying..."be careful what you wish for?" 

I'm here to to tell ya...."Be careful what you wish for!"  You might just end up with all your children sleeping in your room.

Last week was one of those crazy weeks.  Our family was spread out from the Metroplex, to North Texas and then to New Jersey and Connecticut.  Andy was gone on business, E and C were gone to see Gigi and Pops in my hometown, so Super Bubbie and I (along with the Golden Wonders) held down the fort for a while.

You know, paring down to just one kid  - when you are used to children coming in at least two at a time - is just SO NICE.  He napped and no one else was awake. I got to read some.  And did not have to answer one question! He went to bed early  - leaving me with my cheesy girl movies and blue bell. He was just fine having a bowl of cheerios for dinner. 

But.  When he napped - no one else was awake.  And the only question that Super Bubbie seemed to ask last week was, "Isn't THAT funny?!"   And I got tired of cereal for dinner.  So I wished.  I wished for all my people back. 

Eventually, they all came back.  But as soon as we got back in the routine of Bright Sunshiny Day-land, the air conditioner blew.  It smoked and everything.  So last night we all slept in our room.  ALL.OF.US.   At some point during the night I wondered to myself how in the world I gave birth to the three noisiest sleepers in the Lone Star State.  I thought about dropping them at the fire house under the "Safe Spot" protection for kids.  Just for the night, though.  You know how I get lonely during the day.

One had to potty three times.  Two needed extra drinks.  One worked like a super hero on his paci.  The one who had to potty three time cried in her sleep.  And the other woke up at two and whined around about not being about to fall asleep and stay asleep.  Tell me about it.

Miraculously, I seem to be the only sleepy one today.  How DO they do that?  Keep us up all night and maintain their energy level the next day?

It all balances out though.  In another fit of insanity, I took them all to the shoe store this afternoon.  We were fascinated with the behavior of three different sets of kids who were also getting some shoes.  There was running and hitting and whining and wrestling and fighting for snacks.  It even spread from one family to another.  Three kids (who were strangers) fighting over a baggie of dried cereal. OH MY.  I'm sure I stared with my mouth open for at least five minutes.  I was gently reminded that while my kids may be noisy sleepers, they are generally well behaved.  And yep.  They got ice cream on the way home.  I am THAT kind of mom.  I also had no qualms about pointing out the not-so-well-behaved children. 

Bless their hearts.  As good as they are I'm not buying them anymore new shoes.  They'll just have to make do with what they've got until they can drive themselves to the store.

Oh.  And we also got a new air conditioner today.  Good thing.  Supposed to be  105.  Gosh it's hot. 

If You Came to My House....

My sweet friend Leann tagged me for the new fun meme!  Here goes:

You would see:

The yard of the month sign in our front yard!  Yep.  I'm dorky that way.  In the dining room you'd see our dining room table, our old kitchen table that we don't want to get rid of....and the new coffee table for the new living room when I change the dining room to a living room.  You'd also see our video camera set up....spying on the punks.

We’d probably feed you:

Andy's homemade salsa!  And some yummy guacamole to go with it.  I'd  have a pot of tortilla soup on the stove (YUMMO) and The Salad from Market Street Grocery.  Dessert would be either Texas Sheet Cake, Strawberry cake, or Cream Cheese Bars.  Diet coke, water and coffee would be the beverage!

 

We’d undoubtedly ask if you’d read:

Shepherding a Child's Heart.  Right now we are both reading the Master Plan for Evangelism, so we might bring that up.  If you are a girl, I'd give Mitford a mention (like Leann!)  and A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George.  OH and Holiness by RC Sproul.  Then I'd haul out my Systematic Theology book and try to spur you into a conversation about the sovereignty of God.  We'd have a blast. Finally, I'd run over to my neighbors and get my Restoration Series books by Terri Blackstock back.  Thrilling.

We’d want to play this music for you:

Random play list on the ol IPOD

We’d want to tell you the latest about:

Kids, dogs, punks, decorating projects. Since we've already covered theology, we'd just hang.  I'd show you the colors I've picked for the trim of the outside of the  house and for our master bedroom.  Then I'd show you my fabrics that I've picked for my room.  Then we'd just visit!

We’d probably suggest a game of:

oh dear.  Don't know.  We play trouble and jenga a lot with E and C.  But we don't have very many grown up games.

We might show off:

What?  The yard?  Funny Super Bubbie?  The crazy dogs?  Not sure.  Andrew would  definitely show you his  John Deere tractor that Pops scored at a garage sale.  He can even drive it!

We might get on the computer and show you:

Nothing

If it was a long enough visit, we might watch:

The kids would be welcome to enjoy a movie but I cannot imagine what we could watch other than tons of kiddos and all the other stuff above. *this answer stolen from Leann!

What would a visit to your house be like?

Oh....If you read this and want to do it, then YOU'RE IT!

Just a Smidge Perturbed...or Maybe Just Plain Ol' ANGRY

Here goes.  You may want to scoot a back from the screen....I'm about TO YELL LOUDLY.

And I really don't get to worked up.  Much.  But this is DIFFERENT.

I am sitting in the study blogging.  It's 11:15.  I should be asleep.  However, while I am sitting in the study blogging my husband is outside on the front porch talking to some police officers, a whole firetruck full of firemen and waiting on an investigator.

Why?  You wanna know WHY?

Because since December we have had our Frosty the Snowman popped by baseball bats, a bee-bee gun has shot through the window above our front door leaving a nice bullet hole and (stand back - here comes the shouting again....)

Last friday night two "bombs"  one right after the other expolded in two of our front flower beds. Sounded like two gunshots.  I thought for sure someone on the street behind us was laying shot in their house....it was so LOUD and so close.  I didn't sleep for the rest of the night.....the next day we found the remnants of the "bombs" in our yard.  Killed some of my plants.  After we figured out that the gunshots were really these bomb thingys and IN OUR YARD - we called the police.

And just about forty five minutes ago - Hubs is in the shower, kids are all tucked in and I just crawled in bed and guess what? BOOOM!

Anohter bomb....this time thrown right up against OUR FRONT DOOR.

What the heck?

Neighbors come pouring out and there I am in my pj's peering out the front door scared to come out.  My across the street neighbor comes running and hollaring to call the police and while I'm standing there shaking like a stick he stands guard while I get Andy. 

Yep.  I am so mad.  Frustrated mad.  Ebby Halliday here we come.  This is just crap.  

The Last Day of School!

Thirty five weeks ago, in the back seat of my van, I had two little girls FULL of nervous energy.  One with zero front teeth and they were both singing as loud as I would let them:

Now, Billy Joe McGuffrey
was a really clumsy kid.
On the first day of first grade
I'll tell you what he did.
He tripped over a pencil box,
flew up in the air,
landed on a kangaroo
who pulled out all his hair!
He needed first aid in the first grade,
first aid in the first grade,
first aid in the first grade.
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid.

Today, I brought home two little - but bigger little girls.  One with her big girl front teeth all grown in and one who just the other day lost her first front tooth.  My goodness.  How things change around here!  Super Bubbie had just turned two and now he's nearly three!

We've left behind most of our picture books - and replaced them with chapter books.  Andrew has outgrown even his biggest onsie - but still loves his paci  and we left behind hair bows for a brief amount of time....only to embrace them again.....along with a new interest in what we look like on the outside.  Thankfully, they still want my help and approval on any sort of outfit/combo/hair inspiration that they come up with. 

This summer holds a promise of being a sweet one!  The little girl years are slipping by and I have to say that I hate to see them go....we still have so much to learn!  So many things to discover together.  I've loved first grade~I've loved having two first graders and a two year old this year!  My son knows grammar jingles, the Ten Commandments, and our Ancient Egyptian history song.   This year has brought so much change in our life and we scratch our heads and whisper thank you to the Heavenly Father who has been so, SO good to us.

I'll leave you with one little girl's first journal entry.  It's just too sweet not to share....and my goodness....to those who have walked along beside us this year, I hope this touches your heart, too.

I have a nice worm (warm) house.  Worm (warm) as can be.  Everything in it is very cozy.  It is a happy place.  Come and see.  Everyone in it are as nice as can be.  I love my sweet puppies outside my door and I love my worm (warm) bed.  It is nice.  Everything there is so full of love.  Everything there on rainy days are snug-a-bug!  Everyone there are happy and the kids will play with joy!

It All Started With a Cough or What I Got for My Birthday

Or sneeze or something.

As innocent as a cough or sneeze or something sounds...it can mutate into something really big and really annoying and really, really long lasting. 

Who knew that while I  was blissfully off at my Wholehearted Mother Conference last weekend that the Greatest Hub Ever had brought home from work an early birthday suprise.  The kind that keeps on giving.  And giving.

He was puny feeling by Saturday night.  Fever and aches Sunday. And Monday.  And Tuesday.  And Wednesday.  Emma joined him Thursday.  Andrew on Friday.  Caroline on Sunday..  Andy finally started to feel better on Saturday - but he is still not 100%

We've had several diagnosis of the flu and some to say  its not the flu. I don't really care WHAT it is...just that it moves OUT of this house.  Andy took tamiflu for a while, then stopped it as it was doing no good and started a Z pack.  Emma is now on Amoxiicillian.  Andrew and Caroline are both on a motrin/benedryl cocktail.  So far I am plowing through this feeling tired and run down, but that's about it for me.

And so today - eight days later, I've still got yucky feeling people in my midst.  Some that will eat, some that will not.  Some that have headaches and some that have runny noses and all of them cough.  I told Andy that I think its only fair that he does some investigating to see just WHO at his office shared this with him.  And fire them.  (well maybe not.  Or maybe so.)

Oh.  And Tuesday was my birthday!  AND I hit my WW Goal!  Yay me!  39.4 LBS later feels pretty good!  AND I got a new necklace.  That sparkles and shines.   I've got a few more conference things to share and just some other things that I have been rolling over in my head in all my free time this week.  Ha.   

If I can, I hope to update the book blog this week.  Link is over to the side.  We've really, REALLY read some good books lately. Too good not to share.

So my words of wisdom for today:  Stay home if you are sick.   Wash your hands.  And don't come to my house.   You've been warned.

Blogging again?

Shall I catch you up a bit on the past two months?  Or just plunge right in with a blog that pretends I've been blogging all along?  I suppose I'll catch you up on our lives, but keep in mind, you will be getting the Cliff's Notes version of it all and for that I am very sorry.  These past two months have been life. lived. Unexpectedly.

This year started with a quiet surprise that turned into a life halting, re-arranging, when will it end? kind of adventure.  One that took me to the OB's office no less than 10 times, once to the ER and finally to the OR.  Mix in several sonograms and not really being about to leave the house for nearly 8 weeks because of sheer fatigue and blood loss, you find yourself getting a little restless.  God's hand guided us through it - and I must say being on THIS end of it all is much better!  Whew.

After recovering I found myself enjoying a busy weekend with the sweet women from my church for our annual retreat.  Loved. IT.  Bonus was that Kris joined me!  We enjoyed fellowship, yummy food and wonderful Bible teaching from Margaret Ashmore.   

The next wonderful thing was taking E to see Sara Groves at a church in Dallas.  We had a great date! Charlie Peacock was also there as well as Christopher Williams.  I loved all of it.  Emma tolerated the "boys" and wished for more Sara.  Bonus this weekend was that Elaine and her oldest sat right beside us!

But this weekend.  This weekend was such a treat.  Friday I loaded every kid that I have in the car and drove to Las Colinas.  Met the Greatest Hub ever in the parking lot of the Marriott and handed him the keys to the van with all the kids in it and headed into the hotel, never to look back again.  I spent Friday evening and all day Saturday at the Wholehearted Mothering conference.  I listened to wonderful wisdom from Sally Clarkson.  Things like this:

"Don't let someone else's law (or way of doing things) determine how I feel about myself"

"I will never be perfect (in mothering, homeschooling) and get it right every time.  I must seek to please God in everything I do and accept my limitations - and seek God's will in my life"

"If I want to influence a heart, give grace and accept them for who they are"

And to always remember...."those who are forgiven much, love much"

And all that is just from ONE PAGE of my notes.

I bought great books for my kids, one or two for me, wrote down a TON of book titles, and felt encouraged to seek out a life of beauty for my family.

Oh two more quotes,  "Is this a time to throw a fit?  Or to celebrate life?  Joy is a choice!"

"Some of you got off the fashion train....and forgot to get back on!"  Girls, we MUST take care of ourselves!!

"Nothing great is EVER accomplished easily!"  So true, so true.

While at the conference I also at TWO Three Musketeers bars, enjoyed a room service breakfast, great food from the Taco Diner....and precious time with my friend Elaine.

This week brings a busy week of homeschooling, birthday (mine!) and choosing joy in all that I do.

Even if it is cleaning up after the furry babies that tend to leave a trail of who knows what behind.

Can You Even STAND the Cuteness?

I know you think we have lost our minds, but today has been the BEST DAY EVER at our house.

The long awaited puppies came!

Are they here yet?

OH MY!

((excuse my beauty....today has been a big one))

Worn OUT!  This pic was taken about 10 minutes ago

Their names are Annie Sue and Honey.  Please don't tell Emma and Caroline that I named the dogs - they think they did!  These pups look exactly alike.  Punkin and Molly did not look alike, but they only way you can tell which pup you have is by looking at the collar.

Now, most of us have enjoyed the day.  But if you ask Andrew he's got a completely different opinion about it.  We're praying he comes around.

I'm Dreaming of a White....

Thanksgiving?

Y'all.  It SNOWED.  Big, HUGE, fluffy, wonderful flakes!  We were outside chatting with some neighbors when all of a sudden....POOFY SNOW! SO! EXCITING!  ((please excuse my beauty in the above pic.  I know it's distracting.  I just can't help myself.  But there I am.  If you ever wonder what I look like at any given moment....just click here and gaze.  I wear my cammo pants at every available opportunity.))

Anyhoo!  Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope your day was as great as ours ~ and we're not done yet!  Tomorrow the girls, Gigi and I are having a bake-a-thon in our matching aprons and our Thanksgiving Feast on Saturday.

Love. It.  Stay warm.  Brrrr!  It's cold outside.

Still with the kitchen...

In with the new....