Just Another Day In Paradise

2010-04-22T15:34:00.001-05:00

Monkey Dork!

2009-09-02T17:43:00.007-05:00

SORRY EVERYONE I HAD TO CHANGE THE BLOG ADDRESS. IF YOU ARE SUBSCRIBED OR HAVE A LINK TO ME PLEASE USE THIS NEW ADDRESS. THANKS

http://www.bugbearandbobo.blogspot.com/

Poor Guy, the things that go on in their minds

2009-08-31T12:15:00.002-05:00

Mom, what happens if I wear my underwear to bed and I pee? Will I be killed or will it just hurt real bad?

2009-08-31T10:09:00.001-05:00

So the only good thing about the flu is I dropped a pound. Only 12 to go!

2009-08-24T12:13:00.001-05:00

Kati Bug...Daddy is so proud of you.

First day of public school

2009-08-24T11:54:00.004-05:00

Technically Kati has already had a first day of school. In the state of Texas you have to be five years old by September 1st to enter Kindergarten. Last year Kati was completely ready to start but missed the cut off day by 11 days. Homeschooling was our plan anyway so we just started early. Little did we know that the cut off is always the 1st. So for first grade you must be six, second grade you must be seven and so on all the way through high school. Therefore our Bug will be doing Kindergarten again. It will be good for her, she can use the social skills.

In the past "public school" was like a cuss word to Kati. It was something people only whispered and everyone else gasped at. But when we proposed the idea again she seemed okay and when I mentioned new clothes she was on board. (if she didn't look like me I might not think she was mine)

For the last week she has literally been counting down the days. When I opened the bathroom door this morning, before six, there she stood. I had to send the starry eyed girl back to bed. Not long after she was out of bed again. When I finally called her to get up at 6:30 she sprang out of that bed.

It wasn't too long before she started to change. My sweet girl was getting very crabby. At one point I saw her kick Bear's chair at breakfast. That was it. I called peace, everyone had to get along I said. I pulled her aside and asked what was going on. My baby broke into tears....

She said she was scared. She has never been to school she says so she doesn't know what she is scared of just scared. We cuddled up and prayed for peace and comfort and for a special friend. That set her back on track.

All loaded up to go...

My oh my, she is far to big.

Someone, I won't say who, got all teary eyed when Bug read her paper out loud.

Bug is at a table full of boys. I think that is probably in her best interest, if it was all girls she would probably gab the day away.

We finally left after we and the other parents were kicked out. I can't wait to pick her up and hear all about her day.

My little man

2009-08-21T22:48:00.001-05:00

"I can't sleep."

"Why not buddy?"

"I'm just all alone. No one is bed next to me and I can't sleep."

More love

2009-08-20T15:07:00.001-05:00

Love

2009-08-18T00:33:00.001-05:00

A first

2009-08-16T14:22:00.006-05:00

Quite some many months ago I began getting comments from an unknown woman. I began reading her blog as well. It wasn't long before we struck up a conversation about a trip Jeff and I took with the kids and our friendship grew from there.

I asked her recently how she found my blog and she can't remember, probably blog hopping, (isn't that how most of us found each other) but I know that God sent her to me at just the right time, months before I would need her so that I would learn to trust this sister in Christ. She has been a listening ear, a sounding board and someone to pray with.

Nicole invited me to a bloggy get together. Ordinarily I wouldn't dream of doing something like this, it's so out of my comfort zone, but I am learning to be a new me so I decided to go ahead a join them. I am so glad that I did. We met in this lovely tea room that is ajoined to an antique store.

Jen and Dina brought wonderful things to nibble on. Jen had us all go around the room introducing ourselves and our blogsites. In the 17 ladies that were there we had quite a variety of women all in different stages of our lives. Some with kids, some with no kids, three moms with quad's, some looking for work, some content with being at home, some married, some engaged, some divorced, and many many women who like to decorate.

I am glad that Jen had us switch around to different tables a few times. It gave me an opportunity to meet a new friend. We share a love of dark nail polish, I look forward to catching up on her blog.

See Daddy it's not just me, Alicia is wearing black polish too.
(Jen, Me, Alicia, Nicole)

Me and Nicole

Here are a couple of candid pictures from the night. We were all so busy talking that most of us didn't take that many pictures.

Thanks Jen for organizing all of this.

Tidbits

2009-08-12T22:09:00.007-05:00

This weekend I get the opportunity to meet some bloggy friends and I can't wait. One of the ladies had this great idea to do Tidbits, so just in case any of you lovely ladies are reading my blog here are mine....

I love the smell of coffee

I love to take pictures and wish I could take a photography class

I'm terrified of water.

And I'm scared of the dark like a little kid.

I enjoy a good Mojito.

I wish I knew sign language.

I would love to write for a living.

We almost lost Bug at 27 weeks.

I'm addicted to reading.

I'm 27 and still can't dissect a sentence.

I love to bake.

Jeffrey is a better cook than me. His fried chicken is to die for!

I want to get my nose pierced.

Black and red are my favorite nail polish colors.

I love shoes but don't want to wear them.

Breakfast Club, The Lost Boys, Fireproof, Footloose, and McLintock are some of my favorite movies.

I enjoy old rhythm and blues but I want my Guns and Roses too.

Pretty Pie is the best nickname I have ever had, it's music to my ears.

My favorite line from a movie, "Half the people in this world are women. Why does it have to be you that stirs me?" (Name that movie)

I save the craziest things....

A kid after my own heart

2009-08-09T07:18:00.000-05:00

The baby, for some unknown reason, went to the entertainment stand and selected this movie. He then traveled down the hall and selected this book and snuck them off to his room.

What a crock

2009-08-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

While at the mall I read this, "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." Seriously! Anybody who believes that has only experienced a drizzle and not a true down pour.

Hey dude, walk in another persons shoes and you will know the feeling of this verse, "Have mercy on me, Oh God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until this disaster has passed." Psalms 57:1

Now that's the real world, sometimes life stinks but there is always someone to turn too. Isn't it nice to know that he wants to gather us up in his shelter. Sometimes in life it's a comfort to know that he is more grieved with things than I am. That tells me that I have someone who truly understands what I am going through. Someone to cry with.

What a nerd

2009-08-07T06:50:00.000-05:00

Travel on over

2009-08-06T06:35:00.002-05:00

I'm just loving all these posts that I identify with. Over at Bad Mommy Moments she shared her love of plastic. She is hilarious. Stop by and read her stuff sometime. A wonderful writer.

Favorite Smells

Gravity (Jeff's cologne from High School), I still have a bottle tucked away in a drawer
What ever gum Jeff chewed in High school, I don't know which one it was but every time I smell it I know it's the one
What ever chapstick Jeff used in High school
Those three smells mixed together when I got in his Talon on a hot summer day, pure heaven. Man I miss that car!
Aveeno Baby Wash
wild green onions
puppy breath
(this one is bad) the smell of my newborns barf
coffee
new plastic
The smell of sweet potato bread baking.....I think I'll go make some now!

2009-08-05T21:44:00.002-05:00

Five off the list in one day....pretty good day if you judge by those standards! I guess he knew I would be needing some favorite things.

These are a few of my favorite things

2009-08-05T14:17:00.002-05:00

Over at Cindy Beall she posted this today. Sometimes when it feels like your world is crashing in it's good to take time and remember things that make you happy....

The twinkle in my husbands eye
The uncontrollable laughter of my baby
Listening to my Daddy talk about God
The feel of cold tile under my feet
The smell of hot asphalt after a summer rain
The feel of Bear's tiny hand on my back
The sound of Bug's voice
The smells and feel of fall in Texas and what it makes me think of
Lying in the hammock watching Jeffrey fish with the kids

In a fleeting moment

2009-08-02T22:03:00.010-05:00

"Jeff before you go could you turn that chair more towards that pool."

I haven't worn a swimsuit without shorts since high school so this is new for me and I want to get to my chair as fast as I can. The thought of having to bend over and rearrange the chair with the slight possibility that someone might see me....horrifying.

I race out of one pool to my chair that is close to the 1 1/2 foot pool to watch the boys swim.

I watched them floating around in the floaty tubes that Bear calls hoops.

Man those boys are cute.
Maybe I should untie my top so I don't get tan lines...
I can't believe how tan my legs have gotten....

The boys float to a spot where a tree blocks my vision from them. Bear comes out on the other side. I wait a second. Another moment. Just one more and still no Bo. I leaned forward to see what the stinker was doing.

No!

I see my sweet baby upside down, head under water, with his green tube still around his waist. His legs, up in the air, aren't moving and he is completely still. No thrashing arms under the water.

Completely still.

I have never run so fast in my life but it took to long to get there. I sprang from my chair and ran through the landscape. Jumping in I began to scoop him up. On his way up I notice that his eyes are open but he was so still.

Oh God. I can't do this. Please don't do this.

Putting him against my chest I began hitting his back. People are standing at the edge watching us. They are asking each other questions and I can hear other people saying he was under water. I felt judged. I didn't want them looking at me if these were my last moments. I wanted to scream 'go away'. I wanted to yell.

No phone. I have no phone. I can't call 911.........someone else will have a phone. Please Bo please.

I was terrified that my second worst fear had come true. I didn't want to know what my friends have felt. I don't want to know that pain.

My baby. Please God please. I don't want to look at his face Lord. I can't do this Lord. Ple..

"That boy Momma...that boy Momma" my fears are melting away, "he has a....he has a.... basketball."

Before this there was no sound from him.
Nothing.
No gasping.
No crying.
He just started talking to me.

I have never heard more beautiful words in my life.

I clung tightly to him, never wanting to let him go. After some minutes passed I slowly did. Together we watched the boy with the ball. I can hear the sound of Bear's voice next to me but I'm wasn't listening. I am just praying thanks over and over again.

Bo turns and looks at me with those gorgeous brown eyes, "I drown down dere Momma" he says as he points down into the water. "I's looking at that ground."

I hugged him all over again. I began praying for forgiveness for the profanity that came from my mouth as I ran through the mulch to get to my sweet boy. And more prayers of thanks.

He sleeps with me tonight. I can't take my eyes off of him.

It would be an injustice for the world not to know this face.

Lord I don't know why some parents have to know that kind of pain but thank you for sparing me from it.

Garden of Life

2009-07-27T06:15:00.001-05:00

I loved this post this morning. I find it so true. My purple basil is "me time". It seems so good and needed and then very slowly I begin to take more and more until it takes over. Just what Satan wanted.....

He's a mess

2009-07-26T20:35:00.002-05:00

It's almost impossible to stay mad at Bo....

I was getting him dressed and he just wouldn't be still. There was none stop jumping and arms flying. Finally I said, "Just be still for five minutes and let me get you dressed!" His response: he waved his tiny little fingers in front of his face and said "I'm cute, I'm cute".

Just moments later he was whining and fussing because I wouldn't let him go. "Timothy, just suck it up. Let me get you dressed and then you can go back to playing." He pops his thumb in his mouth and said, around a mouth full, "I suck it up Mommy."

I was squirting gel out to fix his hair and it made a noise that sounded like passing gas. He looked at me with a twinkle in his eye and said "That was you Mommy."

I wants

2009-07-23T07:27:00.002-05:00

I don't get the "I want"'s very often but right now I have three. Two involving plastic surgery and the last is a Kindle. I just learned it even existed last week and now I want to get one for me and for Daddy, Mom would probably never forgive me. No worries Mom I cant afford it anyway.

Looking back

2009-07-21T05:28:00.002-05:00

March '07

This is one of my favorite pictures of Bear. Not just because he is so handsome but if you will direct your attention away for the gorgeous brown eyes and look up in the top left corner you will see the flower he piked just for me. My boy loves me so.

2009-07-16T14:27:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday Jeffrey

I guess I will be scheduling all future phone calls for naptime

2009-07-08T09:19:00.001-05:00

and no it wasn't just the baby. And unfortunately there is so much more strung everywhere else.

Just some funnies

2009-07-07T01:18:00.000-05:00

My baby got sick but didn't have the vocabulary to tell me what was happening to him. I guess vomit isn't a word that little guys use. So he let me know he needed to barf by repeatedly saying "itchies".

Bear clawed Kati at church and even after interrogating and slightly fibbing to him he still wouldn't admit to it. So finally I asked what would Ms. Lisa say if I asked her. "I just didn't want to get any spankings so I lied!" ~~ Well, all I can say is at least he was honest about that.

Timothy thinks it's funny to point to black people at the store and say "Grandma" or "Grandpa"

After admiring a bird in Grandma E's bird bath Bear said, "Why would he want to drink his bath water?"

It's this face that keeps him out of so much trouble

2009-07-06T07:59:00.000-05:00

My first two true loves

2009-07-03T07:54:00.000-05:00

It's just so danged hot

2009-07-02T07:33:00.000-05:00

In the summer this may be the best part of our zoo. You pull this nifty cord and water sprays out over the square.
The kids love it.
Look at this pure joy
Off to the side someone ran so hard he lost his britches.
The water tower is like a beacon. It draws children in from miles around.
And makes them act like.....well, act like kids.

Check out Bugs face. I wish you could all see this side of Kati. She is a hoot. Doesn't Bear's face just scream love

Nothing is safe

2009-07-01T07:16:00.002-05:00

I have been on a cleaning out spree. I feel the need to purge my home of things. I hate clutter. I am so much happier in a room with minimal things. That's a hard home to have when you are as sentimental as I am. I save all kinds of things for the memories. I still have a gum wrapper that Jeffrey wrote a note to me on from when we were kids. And I love it. I probably have every letter we ever wrote to each other. Even the silly little notes we would leave on each others cars. I have ticket stubs from when our little brother was sworn in to the army. Leafs that the kids have give me, and rocks. All kinds of things. I love my little things. They make me smile. But clutter drives me nuts. These two worlds don't go well together.

I get silly over the kids toys too. If they had a stint of loving one toy for more than three days then it's so hard for me to let it go. Even if they didn't ever even look at a toy but I know that it was special to whoever bought it for them (I guess that ones just guilt) I have to force myself to let it go.

But lately nothing is safe. Just look at how nice the boys room looks. That makes me happy. There are so many less toys to step over at night. I may have added five years to my life. Things all over the house are getting thrown into boxes or put in trash bags. I am thoroughly enjoying every minute of it.

2009-07-01T07:14:00.003-05:00

I have gained two more pounds. I have no reason what so ever to complain, I haven't been exercising. You are not going to believe me but I can really see the two pounds. I know exactly where they went.

And that's all I'm gonna say about that!

2009-06-26T08:11:00.002-05:00

Could I please just turn on some type of media today and not here about Micheal Jackson's death. Yes, it's a sad thing when someone dies but let's not glorify him. The man was a pedophile. The world just became a safer place. I wasn't going to say anything. I know my opinion is harsh but I'm going crazy with all of this. You can't turn anything on without people talk about the King of Pop and how great he was. The man was very talented, I'll give him that, but it doesn't take away the fact that he was a perv.

Oh, yeah, and I gained one pound this week.

Still picking up pieces

2009-06-23T15:21:00.001-05:00

Jeff: Got any ice cream?

Me (from the kitchen, walking towards the living room): No but I was about to get me some cake do you want some?

And then I dropped it.And that about sums up how my entire day went yesterday.

As previously mentioned

2009-06-19T08:51:00.002-05:00

The hardest working man I know. After only getting one and half hours of sleep and going into work at 4:00 am Jeffrey put in a new water heater last night. And thanks to my mismeasurements he wasn't finished until late last night. Really, I don't know anyone who works harder. Thank you Jeffrey.

What about me

2009-06-18T01:50:00.000-05:00

I am the type of person who needs time to themselves. Every.Day. When it was just Jeff and I the drive home was good enough. I could turn the radio up loud, sing to my hearts content and let my mind wonder where ever it pleased without interruption. And then they came. And life got really busy. There was no more drive home. Always interruptions. Never time for just me.

And it started.

What about me? When do I get my time? I take care of everyone else but who takes care of me? When is it my turn?

It wasn't that I thought Jeffrey didn't take care of me and the kids. The man works harder than anyone I know. He'll kill me for this but this man, on a consistent basis, goes to work in pain. And I know some of you are think that you do too but I'm talking this man goes with migraines, back and neck pain and feet that he can hardly walk on some mornings. That's the kind of man that I am married too. I know that he takes care of us and I am so grateful. But Satan began whispering these things to me. Things like "I'm not good enough" "No one notices what I do" "I work so hard and for what, it's all messed up again right away" "Why can't I just suck it up and be happy for him" And those thoughts turned to the 'what about me's'. I'm not using that as an excuse but that's how I got there. I began taking more and more time for me and then some more and a little more. Satan didn't make me do that, I chose it on my own. Every time saying to myself that I deserved it but never realize how much time I was spending on me and not the other people in my family.

But I still felt empty and frustrated. I was looking to things and Jeffrey to fulfill me when really I should have had my focus on God to fulfill me. We as humans will always fail, that's just us, flesh. In all my "me time" none of it was spent with the Lord. I had fallen severely away.

I read something recently that helped me to see that I need to look to God to be fulfilled. For the last eight and a half years I have expected Jeffrey to fill my emotional cup and not the Lord. I have always put Jeff before God, realizing it but not really knowing how to make it any different. I wish I could link to the article because she put it so well but I can't find it. In short, none of us have a full cup, that we all need the Lord to fill that cup. And what a crazy thought for me to expect Jeff to fill my cup when his isn't full either. Jeff is my equal partner but not the person I should get my self worth from.

So my point is I wasn't seeking the Lord first. I was looking to get myself worth from my husband, and from being a "good" mom and if I felt accomplished at home when I should have been turning to the bible and prayer. I left the door wide open for Satan to turn my thoughts to me instead of to God.

I'm so frustrated when I read over this. I can't get just what I want to say right. What I am trying to say is if you are doing this stop. There will never be enough "me time" to make you feel fulfilled only Christ can do that for you. Seek Him daily. It's so easy to slip away.

It has begun

2009-06-17T06:42:00.000-05:00

Look closely now. What do you see underneath the changing table? That would be three, three different pairs of my shoes. Now since I love those shoes I know that it wasn't me that put them under there. And since I have turned a new leaf about how I will spend my time cleaning my home* I am reaffirmed that it wasn't me.

I always tell the kids if you didn't see someone do it then you shouldn't accuse them of do something but I am about to break that rule. I blame....
Kati

I am not sure that the boys are old enough to think this through. That it would just be faster to shove it under something instead of putting it were it goes. Now I am not saying that the boys are stupid, I have brilliant children. But Bear's style is to stand in a hurricane hit room and tell you he can't see anything that needs to be picked up.

I think that girl and I are going to have to have a talk. Maybe she knows where the remote is for the converter box. By the way, unless you have your remote you can't reprogram your box and therefore loss channels. (I will now remind myself about the seeing someone do it rule so I don't ring her neck first.) I miss me some ABC. Oh remote where have you gone.

*My new thoughts on house cleaning.
I have three kids and if you have kids yourself I need not go on about how difficult it is to keep a clean house.
Some days it seems like their only goal in life is to dirty dishes I just washed, make crumbs where I just vacuumed, and play with toys I just put away. Since I am the kind of person who likes to see a finished product to feel accomplished it was destroying me. I felt like I never got anything done even though I knew I had worked so hard. So I thought about what are the most important rooms, to me, to be kept clean. My bathroom (I hate a dusty counter), the kitchen, the living room, and semi my bedroom. I realized that I shouldn't worry so much about the kids rooms. They are kids. Small kids. Who cares if it is a mess. I was spending so much time get everything in it place (yes, I'm that mom) and by the time I would head over to the next room the baby, in seconds, would trash what I had just cleaned in the last room. So I work on the rooms that are important to me and don't stress about the rest. I also have the kids play in their rooms instead of dragging a million things into the living room. It has really changed my mood. I am less stressed and grumpy. I have been praying for God to reveal things to me about myself and I am so glad He revealed this and gave me a way to fix it.

It's a keeper

2009-06-16T07:21:00.000-05:00

The Thunder Rolls

2009-06-15T18:30:00.002-05:00

I have really enjoyed all the storms lately. Outside of fall this may be my favorite time of year. The more storms the better. I love the feel of our pier and beam home shaking with each deep roll. Here are some shots straight out of the camera.

Genesis 2:9a And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground- trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.

I love that my God not only cared about nourishing my body he wanted to nourish my soul with pleasing things to look at.

It's every where

2009-06-12T07:54:00.004-05:00

It's in the movies
It's on tv
On nearly every commercial
You can't walk two steps in the mall with out some ad trying to sell it
It's even hinted at in kids movies

What am I talking about?
Sex.
It's talked about everywhere. Every where that is except the one place it should be talked about the most. In the place where you should get the truth about how it should really be and not the glamorized hollywood version. About how it was created to be.

I think the last time I heard someone speak about sex in church was when my daddy officated our wedding. He quoted this verse "A loving doe, a graceful deer- may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love." (Proverbs 5:19) I felt the flame rise in my face and thought 'oh my word, doesn't' he know my brother is sitting right behind us.' Jeffrey and I talked about it that very night. My was I embarressed. But you know what, I was a kid then, and I knew nothing about the way love and sex was created and designed to be by our God. Over the years I have read books and spoken with Godly people and learned of the real design and not what hollywood sells it to be. And now I am glad that verse was part of our cermony.

I think as a church we are so afraid to talk about something so private but the truth is our youth are getting the message from the outside world and it is a false message. Our churches should be educating the youth and just as important if not even more important they should be educating married women. Not for me, but I have heard from other christian woman who were so drilled with the "don't have sex" for years and then after they were married still had that mind set, that there was something wrong with it. When in reality God made this beautiful thing for husband and wife to share, we have just screwed it all up.

I found this blog (I'm not really sure how, I'm a blog hopper) and I love what they are doing here. They are speaking to married women about the way it should be. Encouraging them to take a real look at themselves and change themselves to who God wants us to be. If you are married I encourage you to check out the blog, it just began so you wont be far behind-you can catch up quick. No matter your age or how long, or short a time, you have been married you can benifit from it. Even if you think you have read it all it wouldn't hurt to get a refresher course. This blog just started but from reading the women's comments it's changing lives already.

There were two other things that Daddy said from the wedding that stood out to me that day. The first was when he said this was a unique wedding because he was marrying his son and daughter together. And the other....."Jeff, if I could look the world over and try to find the perfect gift for you, something that would be more than I could afford but something that you deserve and you need, I would give you Stacy." That touched my heart in ways that I can't even begin to explain. It's something that I will treasure always.

Bullfrog

2009-06-09T15:31:00.002-05:00

Not long after Bo was born Jeff and I knew he was different from our other kids. Not better in any way just different. Kati is a mini-me and Bear is a carbon copy of Jeff. They look like us, have personalities like us, and have our skin.

But not our Bo. When he was first born he didn't look like either of us. And as he grew older you couldn't say who he was like, with Bug and Bear there is no doubt. But Bo, he is just our Bo. Like no one else.

Over the past two years his differences from the other kids become more apparent. He loves to steal the spot light. Has never met a stranger. And is confident that everyone loves him.

I enjoy that I have a "little Jeff", and even though I don't like me and I love Kati just as she is (some how my personality doesn't seem so annoying on her), and I love that Bo is his own. I love that they are all different and unique.

But there is one thing that my Bo has that stands out to me the most right now. His beautiful coloring, which he certainly didn't get from me. And at times Jeff may seem to not be fair skinned but really you just have to look between all of the gorgeous freckles. My baby has the most beautiful tan and the summer has just started. I must admit I am jealous. I must share a story....

After spending a day outside I again noticed my pale beauties and his dark skin. I began kissing all over his arm calling him 'my sweet brown baby'. I asked, "Where did you get all of this beautiful brown skin?" His reply....

"Wal-Mart"

Check out that tan line!

What a ham

2009-06-09T07:45:00.000-05:00

Saturday Night

2009-06-08T11:59:00.002-05:00

What a night!

Monday Jeff and I were watching the news when the said something about the George Straight concert that was coming up. Jeff said that looked like fun and I agreed. I really agreed when the said the Reba would be there as well. For as long as I can remember I have loved her music and wanted to see her in concert.

We made plans to go and were fortunate enough that it all worked out. The line up for the night was to be Julianne Hough, Blake Shelton, Reba and George. On our way there Jeff and I were racking our brains trying to remember who Blake Shelton was but as soon as he got started we knew who he was. This is my favorite song of his.....

Of course the high light of the night for me was seeing Reba. I have to admit I acted a fool when she came on. It was exciting to me to see the sea of flashing cameras when she came on stage. She sang lots of my favorites and then exited without singing "Fancy". I looked at Jeffrey in disbelief. How could she not sing Fancy? She just had to make a little wardrobe change....

And what can I say about Ol' George. He was great.

Thanks Jeff for getting tickets. I had a great time.

"Foxie"

2009-06-05T11:11:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure what it is but I love this picture.

The Second Day ~ good work God

2009-06-04T23:01:00.003-05:00

About two weeks ago I walked out my front door for something and was blown away by the view before me. No it wasn't the strange man across the street that can't seem to keep his shirt on. It was this.

And ever since then I continue to notice the beautiful sky. Even when I don't want to. I am so moved by it I can't seem to stop taking pictures of it. So I thought I would share a few of my favorites with you. And of course I enjoyed playing with them on picnik too, but know they were beautiful creations from God before I tweaked them.

2009-06-04T23:00:00.000-05:00

Down another pound. 14 to go.

Beautiful, You're Beautiful. As Beautiful as the Sun

2009-06-01T07:06:00.002-05:00

As I watch my baby girl sleep this morning I can't help but think how lucky some man is going to be someday. She is beautiful. Breathe taking even. Now, I don't see it but Jeffrey has said the same things about me. He has said that he loves my green eyes but somehow they are even more beautiful when they are closed. I never got that until today when I looked at her.....

More than outward beauty I want her to have this beauty:
1 Peter 3:3-6
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

The Bible also says that the older women are to teach the younger women. I hope that I can be a good teacher for her.

Big Boy Bed

2009-05-24T17:13:00.000-05:00

I finally finished his blanket. It's not like I want it to be but I was just so done with it. And the other kids where in their toddler beds long before this. When I caught him trying to climb into his crib I knew it was past time.

He was so excited. He hollered "mine, mine!".

Look at my two boys. I am just sick with all this growing up. I know I didn't give anyone permission to do that.

I took this later when I peeked in at him.

2009-05-23T20:13:00.000-05:00

15 to go!

2009-05-22T13:40:00.002-05:00

I lost one pound this week, so I'm down to 145. It's funny how the number can affect the way I see myself. I was feeling extra fluffy this week. I missed a day of working out, I haven't been eating to great and I quit smoking this week. I was sure I would have gained this week so when I saw me in the mirror I saw extra fluff.

I got on the scale this morning and was shocked. I only have 15 more pound to lose. I noticed the next time I looked in the mirror I didn't see fluff anymore. Now I know it didn't suddenly go away, it's just all in my mind. I think this is an important thing to remember. --If I feel good about my self I am more likely to like what I see in the mirror.

I moved on to Phase 2 of the 30 Day Shred and it's killing me. I don't think I will be moving on the Phase 3 anytime soon. Killing me or not I can tell a difference in the way that I feel. I was able to "air plane" Timbo over my head the other day. And Kati wanted a big hug and I just swooped her up into my arms for a bearhug. I didn't even notice until later that it didn't take me any effort. So even if it takes me awhile to drop the next 15 I like that I feel better.

It's not a green thumb, I haven't done one thing to help this plant. Maybe that's why it's still alive.

2009-05-19T07:50:00.002-05:00

I'm still not 100% sure but I'm taking my bets on a pumpkin plant. Whatever it is it sure is pretty. And clearly yummy, someone has enjoyed quite a few bites.

Just in case I was getting to big for my britches

2009-05-18T07:17:00.000-05:00

Kati "Why are my pants like that?"
Me "Because you are tiny."
Kati "Where do I get that from?"
Me "I don't know."
Kati "Maaaybe from like Ms. Michele or Ms. Erica?"
Me "No it doesn't work like that. Do you think mommy is small?"
Kati, with a twisted face "No"
Me "Why not?"
Kati, same twisted face "Because I just don't."

___________________________________

While in Alabama we shopped for swimsuits. The boys were easy, just make sure they don't fall off their waists. For Kati however it's more difficult. First I have to deem it modest and then it can't be hideous and then for the part all woman hate, does it fit right? Kati and I have the same body type -mine with some extra fluff- She is going to be shapely in her bottom half. My big hips and behind have been something I liked about myself all these years, well except for maybe that time I knocked off more than one book on my way down the aisle of desks at school. And since it looks like Kati is going to be the same way and most girls don't like their big hips I try to make them seem okay. We have talked before, in regular conversation, about how God makes us all different and that is good because life would just be boring otherwise.

So anyway, sometimes finding a swimsuit that covers enough of her tush can be difficult. She would try one on, I would turn her around and see way more than I should, make her take it off and go on to the next one. We took eight suits with us. I was being to worry about what she was thinking about herself so I started the conversation again

"You know Kati God made us all different. Some of us are tall, some of us are tiny, some of us have brown skin, some of us have freckles-

"Like Daddy"

"-Yes like Daddy and I think you will have a lot like him too and you have a body shaped like Mommy's"

"No I don't"

"Yeah you do"

"Nuh-uh"

"Okay, why don't you?"

"Because your tummy is all squishy and wrinkly and mine doesn't look like that."

Okay, she has a point but before she destroyed my body my belly bottom was just a cute as hers. I do like to remind her every time we walk by bikini's that I will never again get to wear one because of her.

in the shadow of your wings

2009-05-15T07:05:00.003-05:00

You are looking at a picture of one of my favorite places, if not the favorite place for me to be. For some reason here I can be still. At home I can't seem to do that, there is always something that needs to be done. But here I can let my mind wonder. No jokes, of course I have a wondering mind, I have three small children -Jeffrey calls me random- that's not the kind of wondering I mean. I'm talking about just peaceful relaxing of the mind. I lay here and stare up into the branches above me, feeling the breeze all around my body and listening to the birds and frogs in the distance. Being around God's gently quiet creations relaxes me. There is only one thing that would have made this picture perfect.

2009-05-13T07:20:00.002-05:00

I read this post this morning and can really relate right now. I always have a problem with this and I think a lot of us struggle with it. Stop over and check it out.

Weigh in Wednesday

2009-05-13T06:44:00.004-05:00

I have made it to 146. I am so excited. I still have a ways to go but still. I haven't been that small in so long. Around here that isn't what I say, I say I haven't been that healthy in a long time. I don't want Kati, or Bear for that matter, to think you have to be small. We are all built different and I just want their mind set to be for health. But for me, I know that I can be smaller, never tiny and always with big hips but I'm okay with that.

I have been working out with the 30 Day Shred. Yesterday while watching the biggest loser Kati said, "Mom, that girl has the same name and the same voice of the girl from your workout video."

The kids have been really excited about exercising and it nice to not just be alone in the room doing it. I wish you could see Bear doing butt kicks, Timothy doing crunches and Kati doing squat punches. They are a ball.

If you want a really good work out you should try it. I thought I might die after the first day. And the next morning I almost fell down when I got out of the bed but it was just because I am so out of shape. I was fine by day three. Jillian really pushes you in the video, by the end my hair is wet from sweat, even the tops of my toes feel sweaty. I can see results and I'm not even being that good about doing it everyday.

146, I can't believe it. It makes me believe 130 is possible.

I love my boy with a deep unimaginable love

2009-05-12T13:25:00.003-05:00

Kati: Mom! You've got to come see this!

Bear: It's a dead rollie pollie! You've got to touch it!

Me: No, I think I'm good guys.

Bear: Okaaay, but you're missing out.

2009-05-08T02:57:00.000-05:00

I don't know what is up with my camera lately (or the photographer) but things aren't coming out right. Can you see her bruise? It's a whopper.

She told me she tripped over a pretend apple at church. When asked if she cried she beamed no. Someday all our kids are going to be in therapy and it will be my fault.

"Rub some dirt on it!" is what we say.

If you ask me that boo-boo deserved some tears maybe even a not nice word or too, not that I am speaking from experience.

Ewww

2009-05-07T02:48:00.000-05:00

First I should say that this picture doesn't even come close to capturing the disgusting mess that is now my car.

Sunday the kids had their award ceremony for AWANA and I was so proud of them. There was to be an ice cream social afterwards but by the time I rounded up all our things and took Kati and Bear to the bathroom there was no where for us to sit as a family and still a long line to actually get ice cream. I threw caution to the wind and decided we would go out for ice cream, don't ask me what I was thinking. Anyway I figured the best bang for my buck would be a cookie monster from Cheddar's. That way we would only get one and share, it would cost less than ice cream for everyone and it would go faster.

When I pulled into Cheddar's parking lot I was so excited to get a spot right up close (after I waited for the drunk girl to get out of the way). We went in ordered right away and had a delightfully messy time. Thirty minutes later, thirty minutes, when I went outside that is how I found our car. Gross. I jokingly told the kids to quickly get in so we wouldn't get pooped on. That worked out just fine for them, not just fine for the person who has to buckle them in. And that's all I have to say about that.

Could someone please tell me what it is I am growing?

2009-05-05T02:36:00.000-05:00

Jeffrey will tell you that I don't have a green thumb, whatever the opposite of green is, well that is what I have. My honey loves to ask people why they would want to be so cruel to a plant when I receive them from other people. And he is right. I once killed a cactus.

I do however want to have a green thumb and I love flower pots. In fact there is one a Wal-mart that has been calling to me now for months but I have shown marvelous restraint and not purchased it. I am embarrassed to admit that as of right now I have four flower pots sitting on my porch with nothing in them and one that has a severally struggling aloe vera. And then there is the pot pictured above. I have no idea what that is. I should tell you that I put several different seeds in there over the years and I have seen some squirrels bury things there. I have planted blue bonnets, onions, various flowers and I know that some pumpkin seeds from our jack 0 lantern fell in there as well.

I'm guessing pumpkin and that may be just wishful thinking on my part since I love them. Jeff said maybe I can grow one in the shape of the pot, like the Chinese grow their watermelons. That man cracks me up. One of the many reasons I married him.

2009-05-04T15:03:00.002-05:00

Meet my new motivation. No I wasn't dumb enough to buy something I can't fit into but I did buy something that will look not so good on me now but in about ten pounds will look great. Seeing it hanging there makes me want to work harder. I realized the other day that I will never look like this again, three kids will do that to a girls body, but I can strive to look different.

Different here I come.

See, I do have other kids!

2009-05-02T05:58:00.000-05:00

Wednesday morning I wasn't feeling my best so I was somewhat hiding in my room hoping against all hope the kids just might sleep in that morning. But alas, the sun and moon and stars and scoobie-doo weren't all aligned and long before 7:00 am came I heard feet banging up and down the hall. God bless Bear's little heart, he walks just as loudly as I do. This could be a good thing for me. I was keenly aware as a teen that I would never be able to sneak for my loud walking and popping toes. And if I had to guess which one would sneak out.... at this point I would pick Bear. So maybe next time I won't lament those loud steps.

Whoa, I was totally sidetracked. That has nothing to do with the post....where was I. Oh, yes. I lay there in bed wanting to tell him to get back in his bed but then he would know that I was also awake and the barrage of 'I'm hungry's would start and dang it he wasn't even suppose to be awake yet. So I just lay there not feeling well and listening to him occasionally run up and down the hall. I thought at first that he was sneaking rides on his new scooter but later I learned different.

While his brother may prefer cookie dough Bear would rather his be cooked. The plate that had cookies piled high on it the night before had dwindled.

"Bear? Were you eating cookies this morning?"

"No."

I raised my eyebrows, "Bear?"

"No Mommy! I said I wasn't!"

"Okay, then let me look it your mouth."

Hand firmly clasped over any evidence, "I didn't eat any cookies!"

I swear I have other children

2009-04-30T05:48:00.002-05:00

it's just that right now Bo is at that age where just about everything is priceless. Even when I ask him to give me a hug and he nonchalantly says "No way".

And it's not just me who thinks so, everyone seems to be smitten with him. It's his charm. It may end up being his one saving grace through teen years.

Just last night he came in the room to interrupt me and a friend for the millionth time just to show me the candy in his mouth. The things is, it just seems impossible to get mad at him. My friend just chuckled and said "He's a card"
This is how he watches TV. Adorable, I know. (Look at that length. He's not much of a baby any more.... 22 months.)

Weigh in Wednesday

2009-04-29T05:44:00.000-05:00

I made it to 149 y'all, I'm so excited.

Just 19 pounds more to go. That sounds really depressing to me except when I think about that I have already lost 12.

I can't tell by looking at myself but my pants are to baggy now but some how I seem to be in between sizes, neither one is fitting right. I did however notice when i put on one of my favorite T-shirts on it was baggier and looked to be the wrong size for me. That was exciting.

What am I suppose to do with him

2009-04-28T12:31:00.002-05:00

I am suppose to have company tonight so I thought I would bake some cookies. As long as I would be mixing I thought I would go ahead and make a double batch for later use. Chunky Chocolate Chip with Pecans.

Mmmm!

Now I have three kids so leaving the kitchen while you're baking isn't something new to me. I removed the bowl with batter and placed it high on the counter by the sink. While I baked a batch I headed off to my room to dry my hair. Once dry I came into the hall only to find Timbo munching away on something. When he opened his mouth I was greeted with a mouth full of chocolate. I assumed he pulled the same stunt from Bear's party and went to see how much damage he had done to the baked cookies.

Nope, that rascal tore open the batch I planned on freezing later. It is impossible to let that kid out of my sight.

Things you never thought you would say as a mother

2009-04-25T11:58:00.001-05:00

"Oh Timbo, I'm sorry your lip got stuck in that gun."

Yumm-o

2009-04-22T08:04:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I made bread for a friend who was going to take care of my kids yet again. She has been a real lifesaver. Any way I had some left over batter so I decided to make us a batch for breakfast this morning. (I plead the fifth on the missing sections that were already there before breakfast)

Apparently when one must take a large bite one must raise their eyebrows as far as humanly possible. He looks rather scary if you ask me.

Poor little guy

2009-04-21T09:20:00.003-05:00

....has a swollen lip and Bear has no idea how he got it even though right after I heard the crash I heard him say "sorrysorrysorry".

Four months is far too long

2009-04-15T00:35:00.002-05:00

Since Michele and Kyle have left I have been dying to make a trip to Alabama but Jeff and I have never seen eye to eye on it. He wasn't comfortable with me and the kids driving across so many states and I didn't want him to find me quivering in the airport bathroom when I became overwhelmed in baggage claims.

Recently I got the green light to go but he wasn't going to be able to come until May and that just seemed forever away. So I made plans Friday night to leave in the morning to make an incredibly long drive. We made it just fine in about 12 hours, not to bad when you consider that I have never made the drive and I had three small children with me.

I was hoping along the way to stop in and see one of Jeff's brothers but Jesse is out of state at some military school thing so that was a no go.

I have had such a nice time visiting with Michele, I'm going to hate going home. But I do have to admit that I miss my Jeffrey.

I of course left my camera at home or I would be showing you their new home and Alabama scenery. What I really wish that I could show you is a memory now etched in my mind. I wondered into the kids room here and found them as one large and long tangled mess of children sleeping peacefully. It was priceless.

Lots of Presidents are first children, do they have anything good to say about thirds

2009-04-09T05:58:00.004-05:00

Kati came to me, "I think Timbo is eating Bear's birthday cake."
"No he's not. It's on the stove so he can't reach it."
"Well he has something all around his mouth and it looks like cake."
Rolling my eyes, "Timbo?"

Sure enough there is cake on his face.

I purposefully didn't leave it on the table for this reason. Guess I wasn't as smart as I thought I was.

Someone is growing!

To save a little girls heart

2009-04-09T05:56:00.001-05:00

I was just about to write a post but stopped to catch up on some other blogs that I read when I came across this. If you are a mommy stop and read this right now.....she puts it all so well.

Weigh in Wednesday

2009-04-08T08:33:00.002-05:00

Weight - 156 - lost one pound

This has nothing to do with weight but it made me smile.

"Mama, what do cheerios grow on?"

Stumped yet again

2009-04-07T07:06:00.001-05:00

Mama, how old is God?

Works of God

2009-04-06T09:29:00.003-05:00

My husband calls me on Friday panic in his voice.

He lost his wedding ring.

Now, I know for some people this may not seem like a big deal but it is for us. I know for some women they look forward to when their husbands can buy them a bigger diamond and some men who only wear their rings because it makes their wives happy but that just isn't us. I don't ever want a different ring and neither does he, so imagine his worry when he lost his.

My husband couldn't remember at what point it wasn't there anymore. I know some of you are thinking just retrace your steps, but he jams his hands inside of machines at work all the time so there was a good chance it was at the bottom of some machine at work that it hundreds of thousands of dollars. I think his company would kind of frown on him taking it apart.

I agreed to pray but braced myself for the loss of his ring and wondered where we were going to get the money to get him a new one.

A few hours later he calls, "I can't talk now the tour is almost here but I found it."

Phew! After he washed all the grease off his hands he pulled it off with a paper towel by mistake and threw it away. I am so glad he thought to look there.

Maybe for our ninth anniversary we should check into tattoo rings.

Slacker

2009-04-03T10:50:00.002-05:00

I've been a slacker I know. My post has absolutely nothing to do with this picture but they looked so cute I just had to share it.

Timothy has learned a new phrase, "No way". He uses it for just about everything. I will have to try and get it on camera to share with you all. It's just to adorable for words.

2009-04-02T05:27:00.001-05:00

2009-04-01T22:21:00.001-05:00

I love stacy

2009-04-01T01:20:00.000-05:00

Weigh in Wednesday

2009-03-31T13:02:00.002-05:00

on a Tuesday. Since tomorrow is Bear's birthday I am just going ahead with this post today.

Weight 157

Thursday- bike for 1 hour and 10 minutes
Friday- 30
Saturday- 0
Sunday- 25
Monday- 0 (sick)
Tuesday- 0 still not feeling up to pare

2009-03-31T11:33:00.002-05:00

2009-03-30T06:10:00.000-05:00

She's a girl.
Yes, she likes to play in the dirt and look and cool bugs
but deep down she is a girl.
She wants her nails painted
and lotion on.
If I would let her she would wear a sun dress in thirty degree weather.
And although she doesn't really want to sit still while I brush out all the tangles she loves to have "fixed" hair.
But we have a problem
She now wants to fix her own hair.
And while that is all fine and good for when we are at home
it was rather difficult to let her walk into church with her own 'do.

My only consolations is that people probably assume her Daddy fixed it.

2009-03-30T05:41:00.001-05:00

Any minute now
I'm going to wake up
They are all going to yell
April Fools
and this will all be over

Anybody got some Dapper Dan

2009-03-28T10:15:00.000-05:00

"Mama?"
"Mama?"
"Maaaaama?"

I stroll down the hall, throw on the lights, expecting to find a full diaper and an empty belly. Instead, I found this....
What on earth happened to this poor baby in his sleep. Did he stick his finger in a light socket?

Did he consult Edward Scissor hands for a hair dresser?
Who knows. All I do know is that it sure didn't take away his cuteness.

They don't come more beautiful than this

2009-03-27T15:31:00.002-05:00

Works of God Weekend

2009-03-27T14:39:00.002-05:00

Lizzie, over at A Dusty Frame has moved Works of God Weekend to Mondays but it works better for me, when I remember, for Fridays.

I am going to kind of cheat here and link you to something from the past. It was a year ago but the death of Liam Neeson's wife has brought it to the forefront of my mind. While looking at pictures of Bear from the past year when I come upon the pictures that were taken while he was bleeding and I didn't know it, I can't look. I feel physical ill, I feel like a horrible mother, but mostly I feel complete gratitude that things came out fine. Thank you Father.

I know the post was super long but if you want to read more scroll down to our archives on the side and you can click on March 2008. There is another post on March 28 or 29 and some from early April 2008.

I love being southern

2009-03-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

While at school today....

"Mama, what's a 'get'?"

I had to stop and explain that for us it's 'git' but we just talk funny.

Rub some dirt on it

2009-03-26T06:08:00.003-05:00

At our house

we play rough.

None of this whining

crying

"I can't do it", stuff.

You just have to get in there

and go for it.

And they love it!

Weigh in Wednesday....

2009-03-26T05:58:00.002-05:00

on Thursday. I know, I know, I haven't posted anything since Monday, which really means that I haven't written for nearly a week since I just auto-post most of my things. I've been busy and if you are a mom I don't need to say anything else because your mind just became full of all the things you have done recently so you totally get it.

Weight loss - one pound - 160
I can't remember what my times where this week for riding my bike. I do remember they could have gone longer and I didn't go walk every day as well. I don't get how all the other moms fit it all in. If I do school with Kati and circle time with all the kids (work on colors, some signs, bible verses, days of the week and a work book) and then we go to the park the house suffers. Since I won't let the education of my kids slip so I can loose weight and I go crazy living in a dirty house I gave up the park this week, which I hate because it feels unfair to the kids. (That had to be a run-on)
I had been doing good with my points until Friday when I used my flex-points and I never got total control again. I have no self control.

That's all for now.

I feel like I am never going to lose this weight.

These kids just keep us rollin'

2009-03-23T06:23:00.000-05:00

I rounded the corner just in time to see Kati holding up only her middle finger. Knowing that if I over-reacted it would only make things worse.
"Kati where did you learn that?"
"Bear just showed me."
"Bear where did you learn that?"
"That's what Spiderman does to the bad guys."
I stiffly my giggles and show them the correct way. As I head toward the kitchen I holler, "Babe, I just caught the kids shootin the bird"
"What birds Mama?"

Last night while Jeff was singing to the kids Kati starts getting weepy, "Daddy, when I grow up and get married I am going to have to change my last name and I don't think I am going to like that."

Bear burst into tears at breakfast, "Someday I am going to grow up and I'll never get to be a kid again."

While washing Kati's hair she says to me, "Mommy how come when Daddy and I go to the store and it's just me and him and not you and Timbo and Bear does he spit in the parking lot?" She is so random!

And this morning Bear asks "Hey Mama can you show me how Spiderman shoots birds again?"

2009-03-20T02:31:00.000-05:00

My kids all think that have to have something in their mouth at all times. Clearly I have the same problem or I wouldn't be posting Weigh in Wednesday. Anyhoo, with Kati it was her middle fingers, sometimes it was nearly her whole fist, with Bear it was, and still is his left thumb and Timbo is a thumb sucker as well.

But my poor little guy has developed a rash. I wasn't surprised really, Kati had a similar rash when she was little but hers was on her chin from all the drool (somebody remind me to bring this up again when her first boyfriend comes around). At night I could put some cream on it and try to tame it down a mite.But poor Bo got his on the thumb, maybe he is just better at swallowing drool than she was. While I am still able to treat it he is unable to make regular use of it. Being the good natured kid that he is he is very willing to wear his glove.
But at night it can pose a problem. He has happily switched to using the pacifier on occasion but this just means that I have to get up several times a night to find it.
To tell you the truth, I kind of missed seeing that frog in his mouth.

You'll have to talk to my agent

2009-03-19T02:25:00.000-05:00

This is Bear's new pose for all pictures. Once he realizes the camera is out the hand usually shoots up to cover his handsome face. As his mother I know that this is just preparing him for all the paparazzi that he is going to encounter as an adult.
You guys haven't seen him play ball.

He is really pretty good.

But then again he does have a flare for the dramatics.

Weigh in Wednesday

2009-03-18T09:53:00.004-05:00

Thursday- 17 minutes on the bike
Friday- 0 I was sick, took the day off
Saturday- 20 minutes on the bike
Sunday- 0
Monday- walked 1 and 1/8 mile
Tuesday- rode bike for 20 minutes, some ab and leg exercises and walked 1 and 1/8 mile
Wednesday- rode bike 39 minutes, some ab and leg exercises, and walked 3/4 of a mile

Weight 160 - lost one pound

Last week really discouraged me. I had to force myself to get going again. I put a picture of me on the bathroom mirror for encouragement. I thought about putting the one of me, Jeff and our friend from Padre up there but the truth is I will never have that stomach again. That isn't pessimistic, it's just the truth, I have had three kids and my skin will never be the same again. So instead I chose a picture of me that I have always liked but is more realistic. It's a weight that I would like to be at.

I started doing Weight Watcher yesterday. I'm not going to meetings or anything just doing it on my own. It's hard. Although I made healthy choices all day I was so hungry. I am suppose to have either 22 or 24 points and at the end of the day I totaled up to 24.5 points. I went over. It was so disappointing to go over and still go to bed hungry. Jeffry told me if I gave up he would understand but I am going to stick it out. It's not just about being where I want to be weight wise it's about being healthier for myself and setting a good example for the kids. I am glad to say that the kids are having a great time walking with me. Actually they are running/jogging and putting me to shame. I want them to view exercise and fun and not a chore and so far it looks like we are on the right road. I will have to remember to take my camera sometime, Kati and Bear hold hands while they do that awkward kid run in front of me. Yesterday while we were on our second lap Bear yelled over his shoulder, "Mom! it feels like my legs are going to fall off"

You all can be praying for Jeff and the kids, when I am hungry I am impossible to be around.

Oh, and Baby, thanks for rubbing my feet last night. It was nice to have some extra comfort when I was so hungry and frustrated.

Not their cup of tea

2009-03-17T14:09:00.002-05:00

For Valentines day Jeff and I went to Cheesecake Factory and for the first time ever I had asparagus. I know, I'm twenty six, why was this my first time. I'm not really sure. Maybe it had to do with the can of asparagus that was in our pantry for years. Jeff and I both say we didn't buy it so maybe it just creeped me out. But Valentines night I was feeling adventures and decided that if Cheesecake Factory was preparing the asparagus they would ensure that they didn't send me anything creepy.

It was a hit. I loved it.

While at Walmart last week I saw some in the produce department and thought I would try my hand at cooking it. While we grilled burgers I also grilled the asparagus. Our burgers weren't coming out so hot but the asparagus was wonderful. I munched away while we watched the burger shrink into oblivion.

When dinner came I begrudgingly shared some with the rest of the family. And much to my delight it doesn't look like I will be having to do that again any time soon.

What's wrong with these kids, asparagus rocks!

2009-03-17T14:06:00.000-05:00

Last post

2009-03-13T22:01:00.001-05:00

So there were lots of type-o's in that last post but I am far to lazy to go back and correct them. Clearly what ever those cords and medallions were for didn't amount to much.

Oh, and I'm still waiting for my package.

I'm putting my trust in you Jessica

2009-03-13T13:22:00.003-05:00

Let's take a little stroll down memory lane.Meet Stephanie(on the right), if it weren't for her Jeff and I may not be together today. No, she wasn't some match maker or even a good friend of mine. What she did was bring out a really jealous streak in me that opened my eyes to how deeply I really felt for Jeffrey.

This is Jared(Jeff's youngest brother) and me in the summer of 2000. Can you imagine that this baby is now in Iraq fighting. On this night he told me that I made Jeff really happy, among other nice things he said. I will treasure that conversation always.

Me, Jeff and Rachel (just ignore the hand around my shoulder) at Padre.
I am only showing this picture because by now Daddy should be in Mexico with no internet and therefor can't strangle me for my lack of clothes at the time.

This is Alexis and me when I worked in child-care. Trust me when I say she is as cute as a button but I didn't feel okay with showing her face. However I do feel the need to share this.....
Alexis told me that when her Daddy came home at night she had to go play in her room while her mommy and daddy shopped for a little brother.
I still laugh about that but it taught me a great lesson....I should be careful what I tell my kids, just because they don't understand doesn't mean the adult they repeat it to won't.

Jeffrey and me on my graduation night, also my eighteenth birthday.
I wish I remembered what those two extra cords and the medallion I wore meant, not ever one had them, maybe I'm not as dumb as I remember.

This is Quinn and me in English. She was a lot of fun and I am glad I got to know her in school. She introduced me to lots of people, people I probably never would have aloud myself to know.

Now my point wasn't to show you what is in the pictures but what isn't. What's missing from all these photos?

Is it the little VW bug my brother wanted to buy me for my sixteenth birthday? How cute would I have been in a yellow bug with jersey cow upholstery seats. Never mind that I would have had whiplash from not know how to drive a stick shift, I would have been the only one at school with one.

Is teenage angst missing? No, my mother can testify to that. Or really anyone who came within ten feet of me through those years.

We can all see that the blinding glow from my pasty white skin is apparent in every picture, so it isn't that.

No, I'll tell you what was missing from all those pictures and my teenage years. Acne. That's what's missing. The very thing that kept some kids from wanting to go to high school. The same thing that had girls caking on make-up. That's probably the really reason all those Alabama boys are wearing sweeping bangs right now. It's not about style, it's about necessitate to cover up bumpy blotchy red skin.

If you were one of those kids don't be envious of me, while you were making sure your make-up covered it all I was worried about keeping my arms at my sides for fear that someone might see that I sweat like boxer. And now that were are all grown up you acne is all gone and long forgotten but my sweating is still hear but has brought someone new in the mix, your old friend acne. I got it while pregnant with Kati and all these years later it's still hanging on. So here I am, a grown woman with three kids but with the skin of a fifteen year old. It might be okay if I still had that body but alas it's gone along with my bellybutton that I fear I will never see again.

Today I am waiting for the delivery man to bring my Proactive. My sweet husband is the one who ordered it for me. So either he is tired of me looking in the mirror and complaining or he is embarrassed to be seen with me.

I took a picture of myself the day he ordered it but I just couldn't bring myself to post it. However, if I get nice results I will post a before and after. I hope the delivery guy gets here soon. I can't wait to tear into the box and learn how to wash my face. Maybe they will have a video for remedial students.

oh, and babe, I know you aren't embarrassed to be seen with me but it's too bad you can't just carry that photo of us from Padre around and say it's a current picture of me.

Cuties

2009-03-12T17:38:00.000-05:00

They make me laugh, here are just a couple of funny things they have said this week....

Kati: "Sometimes Cameron is so funny, but wait, first, I don't need to go potty, but then Cameron is so funny it makes me need to go potty."

This morning at breakfast
Bear: "Timbo is the cutest little brother I have ever seen"

Weigh in Wednesday

2009-03-11T09:41:00.002-05:00

Thursday- bike 30 minutes
Friday - bike 40 minutes
Saturday - walked 1 and 1/8's of a mile (the older kids kept up the whole time)
Sunday - nothing
Monday - nothing
Tuesday - bike 43 minutes

Weight 161 - gained two pounds
Boo, this makes all my pitiful little bowls of cereal for breakfast so disheartening.

He is a winner

2009-03-10T07:07:00.002-05:00

Since the video was a flop I wanted to share this picture of my Bear. I know it's a little fuzzy but it is super zoomed in. This was taken of the family but he looked so adorable I had to just capture him. Have you ever seen a boy more proud to be a part of a family. I hope he still feels that way when he is fifteen and I'm dancing in the car while I drive he and his girlfriend to the movies.

Allergy season

2009-03-10T06:15:00.002-05:00

The video may be a little tough to see but really all you need to do is listen. No, I take that back, the footage at the end is priceless.

I am so bummed. I just watched the video on the blog and you can't see anything. On our camera it's grainy but you can make Bear out. The priceless part.....at the very end Bear leans in and give the camera a kiss goodnight.

Everybody loves a Dallas girl

2009-03-09T22:38:00.002-05:00

Tonight we put the kids to bed and anticipated checking out a new show that we thought was going to come on at seven. We were wrong and in our slothfulness we just left the tv on and vegged out. I had heard that Mellisa from the Bachelor might be replacing someone on Dancing with the Stars, a show we had never watched before, that I have desire to watch. I may have changed my mind for just one season. Afterwards Jeff said he liked Ty Murry (I probably spelt it wrong). Seeing that jerk dump Mellisa on national tv makes me want to root for her.

So here's to you Mellisa and good riddance to that baby of a man who can't make up his mind. I give him a few episodes and he will be back to wanting you again.

Make the switch

2009-03-09T03:15:00.000-05:00

I believe in full honesty for the blog so with that in mind I must tell you that Jeff is forcing me to move the baby out of the crib. So what that he can stand up and play with the mobile, so what that he is able to put his Bubba to bed all by himself, so what that he is now trying to climb out of the crib. If you ask me he still has a decade or two left before he needs to make the switch.

Before each kid makes the move I make them a blanket for their bed. Timbo is laying on the top part of the quilt that I am nearly done with. I'm having a good time with it. I'll post the finished product when I'm all done. You will have to ignore all the tear stains that will be spread over the blanket.

You can't turn your back for a moment

2009-03-07T02:59:00.000-06:00

She tried to warn me. She came several times but said it wasn't an emergance and in our defense Jeff and I were watching a trailer for a scary movie and didn't want her to see. But she did try to warn me.

The little booger got the one plant I have kept alive and dug it out. Not only did he dig it out he threw dirt at his brother and sister.

Jeffrey made him pick the dirt up and put it back.

One a side note I feel it neccisary to tell you that his diaper isn't as wet as it looks. We buy the cheap ones and they look bulgy as soon as you put it on.

Jeffrey asked him what he was doing and Timbo said "toy". After Jeff made him apologize he went and got his toy vacuum to clean it all up.

Jeff sent him to time-out and clearly that didn't go over well.

I'm a sucker for this face. But don't feel too sorry for him,

he can turn it off in an instant.