I love this day! for me halloween is all about dressing up, trunk-or-treating, then trick-or-treating, great pictures, my favorite uncle's birthday, the smell of pumkin spice candles, chili cooking on the stove for Frito Pie, black kettles full of halloween candy, my favorite fall colors everywhere, jack-o-lanterns lit on porches, streets full of families, flash lights and glow sticks, friends, family, chilly night air, hot chocolate and lots of FUN! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
I have been dieing to blog but I have a problem.. We have our new computer but it is not hooked up to the Internet yet. We have a new camera too but it is not hooked up to the old computer (which is dieing!) At the moment the old computer is still the only Internet access we have... So I have all these things I want to blog about and all these pictures to share and no way to really share them. Everything should be up and running in the next few days, so be on the look out for many a catch-up post!
(soap box warning) Had to send Kolby and Rhett to school costume-less and treat-less this morning. GGGRRRRR! It is elementary school for Pete's sake! I do not like how all the fun seems to be draining out of our public schools with FMNV rules and limited party days. Yes they need to learn and have a non-distracting atmosphere that does not encourage obesity...But you only get so many Halloweens as a kids! Of course we will celebrate all things sweet and Fall-ish tonight so my kids will not miss out on much. Guess I just wish we could get more use out of those costumes! (stepping down now)
Hope everyone has a fun, safe, memory-filled, non-scary Halloween!
Here is what my little trick-ortreators will be wearing!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween!
Friday, October 26, 2007
That's my boy!
Seems Like I don't blog about Rhett as often as I do his sisters. It is not for lack of anything other than time... and perhaps a little squeaky wheel syndrome.
I miss having Rhett around as much now that he is a big kindergartner! But I would not have it any other way as he truly loves school and still is so happy to go off with his Dad and sister every morning. Rhett has adjusted really well to school. His teacher told me he should have a perfect report card next week. He hasn't even missed a day! Rhett still gets a bit worn out towards the end of every week, but he is learning and soaking it all in like the 6 year old sponge of a boy he is!
Rhett does his homework the minute he gets home with no prompts from me. He makes sure I do not forget to sign his folder everyday. He is very good at keeping up with his things. So far he has not forgotten a show-n-tell and loves to talk about the letter of the week and find things that start with it everywhere we go. He fusses at me if we have not laid his clothes out together before he goes to bed. He wakes up to his own alarm clock and is dressed down to his shoes (and now jacket) before any of us are even out of our PJs. He is all business when it comes to being ready for school. I love that about him!
Rhett is also very funny! He cracks me up without trying on a daily basis. For instance, at his school carnival there was a silent auction for a "date" with each teacher. (Movies, ice cream or whatever the teacher picked) We asked Rhett if he wanted to"bid on his teacher." He gave us a puzzled look and said, "I already have her everyday for free!" As if... I then told him it was to bid on a date with his teacher, to which he replied in disgust and dismay, "Mo-om! She is Married!" I think he even rolled his eyes. He was quite eager however to bid on an hour and a half of free time in the gym with five friends. He was elated when he won!
Rhett gets fired up easily. A birthday party invitation makes his day. Getting to rent a PS2 game is the best thing ever! Spending some time with his cousins or friends and he is a happy guy. At the mere mention of a trip or a hotel stay he will jump up and down like he has won the lottery. Rhett loves going to church and hates it if he misses "first class" (Sunday School). He also loves to play outside with friends and LOVES his soccer games and practices. He is a social little guy, but in a completly different way from his sisters.
You never have to wonder what Rhett thinks about something or how he feels about something... Whether bored to tears, mad as a hornet, or happy as a clam, it is clear by the expression on his face. That has been both a good and bad thing.
Rhett loves his Mama and the feeling is beyond mutual. One of my favorite things to do is to read cards (brain teasers) or books with Rhett at bedtime. He always tells me funny stories about kids in his class or something he did that day.
Recently Rhett was griping about a girl in his class who got his table in trouble. She gets multiple clip/color changes almost everyday. I told Rhett he still had to be nice to her and that we should pray for her to find a way to act better. After several nights of praying for the little girl, Rhett stopped mid prayer to tell me we didn't need to pray for her anymore. I asked if the girl was acting better. Rhett said "No It's not working." When I suggested it might take time, Rhett said " I don't want to bother God with ___, She bothers Mrs H and our whole class enough for everyone." Now where did he learn to think like that?????
His lack of compassion for repeat class disruptors aside, Rhett is a pretty sweet little boy. He loves his sisters. Ella Kate loves her brother so much! She looks for him everyday and is so happy whenever he pays her the least bit of attention. But Rhett is pretty good at paying attention to both his sisters. He is a better baby watcher than Kolby. He completely freaks if Ella Kate puts anything in her mouth and is quick to come to her aid if she is in trouble. He also loves Kolby who is not always as nice as she should be to him. He always wants to make sure Kolby gets a prize or a treat of he does. He hates it when she is in trouble. He also loves to hang out in her room though both of them don't like to admit it.
Rhett loves his Dad and lives to go do guy things with him. He loves that his Dad and Robby coach his soccer team. He still runs excitedly to the door to greet Rob everyday when he gets home. They have a special bond as the out-numbered guys in this house.
Rhett was my scariest delivery, pregnancy and probably my most challenging baby, but he is a gem of a kid! It is fun to be his Mom (Though he does try to push the limits at times, no kid is perfect!) I feel very blessed to be able to watch him grow into the fine young man I know God wants him to be. I love you Rhett-r-roo!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
IMac
Monday, October 15, 2007
Halloween Howdy
What is so scary about being a cowgirl for Halloween??
Ask Ella Kate!
Yeah, it was a fun Sears photo session!
This was my favorite but, it was more centered when I ordered it and not so digital blurry.
I think this one is sweet too!
This is the only one we have of EK in her hat...imagine that!
I love these little cowpokes more than anything in the world and LOVE that we have these cute pictures... no matter how hard it was to get them! People laugh at me for my kids matching costumes and pictures but I don't mind. When am an old lady in the rest home, I know pictures of these fun dress-up Halloween years when my kids were still young enough to not mind matching will be some of my favorite! You know how I love a theme! (Click here if you want to see thewhole Parade of Halloween pictures!)
On a completely different note, EK got four big shots in her legs today at her 15 month check. I HATE SHOTS! But I hate being sick more so we do what we do. She has had fever off and on and at times today would limp or not even want to walk. Bless her heart! She has a pretty high fever tonight. I hope it is better in the AM! You hear horror stories about immunizations causing awful reactions and somehow those stories always haunt me when my kids get their shots. I have talked to our doctor about this and she assures me it is worth the risk. Still, I do not like shots.
For the record Ella Kate weighed exactly what she weighed at her 12 month check, but has grown an inch. She is in the 50% percentile for weight and the 75% for height. So far she and Kolby are about the same. Dr K said she looked great and we have no worries...other than having a very active mobile 15 month old whom we have to watch like a hawk! Ella Kate is a mess, but a sweet , loving, funny mess with a great personality and a infectios zeal for life ... and I would not change her for anything! EK has us all wrapped around her little finger! And happy to be "wrapped' at that! Even though a camera can not capture just how precious this baby girl is to us all, I sure hope she lets us get some better pictures of her soon!
These are really fun times with our little Ms. Tooty Pants! and Kolby and Rhett too! Rob and I are very blessed and are amazed God loved us so much that he entrusted these amazing littel people into our care. It is humbling yet heart-swelling to be the Mom of these three!
Hope you have the time to make some great memories with your favorite little people during these great fall days!
Happy Fall Y'all!
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Mrs. Mama... I think not!
With Kolby home the last two days, I did a little bit of "Mommy Homeschooling." Missing two days in 4th grade makes for quite a bit of make-up work, as I guess it should. But just in case I ever take a nasty fall and hit my head and totally loose my memory, I thought I would write down the things I have learned/remembered in the last two days ... Just in case homeschooling should ever come up as an option in our household.
Reasons I Can Not Home school My Children..
1. I am not a morning person. School would not start until 2 in the afternoon.
2. I have a bit of test anxiety and would want to skip testing altogether.
3. Beyond third grade, math gives me headaches.
4. My house would never have a break to be cleaned and would be condemned by mid-term.
5. I am too ADD to teach a 4th grader, a kindergartner and keep up with a 15 month old .. It takes all my concentration just to make their lunches!
6. Have you seen how I spell? and type? Yeah. 'Nuff said!
7. Kolby and I would never make it. Seriously. I love her and she loves me, but we clash. I want her to have better memories of me than that.
8. My social children would be depressed if they could not go somewhere and be with friends all day. They would feel punished. And I think I might feel the same.
9. I am a better mother and my kids are better kids when someone else is "the teacher".
10. Rob could not afford my salary and classroom expenses on his own so I would have to go back to work...and well.. can't home school from work! :)
I do not look down on those who home school. I just feel like they must be from a different planet. I admire them but at the same time do not "get them" at all. I think Moms who home school have to be made out of a better, stronger, or maybe just a completely different substance than I. Now, if we ever had to live overseas, or if one of my kids ever had some health issue that made home-schooling completely necessary, I would rise to the occasion. But as I rose, I would be looking for other options. Maybe they could be blog-schooled? :)
Monday, October 08, 2007
Weekend?
I love weekends but lately... Weekends wear me out! Having said that we had a fun, albeit busy, weekend.
Friday Kolby went on her first church retreat. She was thrilled and has been looking forward to this for weeks! I still can't believe she is in 4th grade and old enough to go to camp and on retreats... But she is and she loves it! She got home yesterday right as church was getting out. Tired but happy.
With Kolby gone you would think we would have had a more laid back weekend.. but no. Friday night we went to Susannah's 2nd birthday party. It was a fun low-key family birthday party. (if you call 8 kids and 13 adults meeting at a restaurant low-key!) We went back to my cousins Ashley's house for cake,presents and more fun. Right before we left , Samantha ( Ashley's oldest) sang us the song she sang in her school talent show last week. I was blown away. I have been around this child regularly through out her 8 .5 years of life and had no idea she had a voice that powerful! We may see big things from Sam in the future!
Saturday I worked all morning on the never ending edits of the Fall PTA newsletter. (gggrrr) I finished just in time to rush off to Rhett's soccer game. After the game Rhett's buddy Thomas came over to hang out until we went to (cousin) Justin's birthday party. R and T had a great time!
Justin's party was at Young Champions. YC is the first of a planned chain of franchised gym/inflatable/arcades/fitness centers for kids. The man who started Curves International and Young Chef's Academy has teamed up with some former NFL trainers and players to launch Young Champions. Yes! Right here in Waco, Texas. Who'd a thunk? Brett Farve was actually here for the YCopening and is a partner in the franchise. Anyway, it was super fun place and the owners are good people! I hope all goes well and that there will soon be a Young Champions near you!
Saturday night I let Rhett rent two Play Station games. He has been begging to rent games since his birthday. He and Rob had so much fun! It cracks me up to watch them play. They are both so intense! And little Rhett actually beat his Dad in NBALive 2008...fair and square! Rob did not give him anything. It was a proud moment for Rhett! Rob too...I think.
Sunday we went to church, got Kolby and went to lunch with some of the family. Late afternoon we left EK with my Mom and sister so Rob and I could take the older two to the Fair and Rodeo. Our school district hosted a family day for a reading program all the libraries put on every other year. We bought the theme book of the year and picked it up at the Fair with hundreds of other families from our school and district!
It was a fun day because we saw so many friends and people we know. The rodeo was fun, but a bit long. The kids were itching to go ride some rides. Since we had free admission and parking from the school, we let the kids ride a few rides...but much to their dismay Rob and I were not willing to fork over $25 each for armbands! And honestly after we went through $20 worth of tickets, we (as in Rob and I) were ready to go. The fair is not the cleanest place. I was ready to go somewhere and wash my hands! We ate at Double Dave's with family on the way home. Then it was time for bathes and bed! That was our weekend. It went so fast!
Kolby seems to have picked up an unwanted visitor this weekend. Around 2:30AM she came to tell me her stomach hurt. Before she could make it to the restroom...her stomach spewed it's contents everywhere! Bless her heart, Kolby tried to stop it with her hands and ended up getting it all over her. and the carpet. and the walls. and the ceiling. I thought we might need new carpet before, but now I know we do! YUCK!!!!!!!! Nothing like cleaning nasty from the carpet at 4AM to start the week off!
Needless to say Kolby is home today. She has fever and feels awful. She was totally bummed about already blowing her perfect attendance for the year. Really. In our family is perfect attendance ever a realistic goal? I can't imagine. Anywho... my plan to get up and out early with EK was shot. Seems like many of my plans are getting shot down as of late. But we managed.
Rhett went to school by himself for the first time today. I don't think he gave it a thought, but I did. I love my kids going to school together. There is comfort in numbers. (Still sad that this is one of only two years any of my 3 kids will ever share a school campus!)
Anyway, today we are in sick mode. Hopefully Kolby will keep this virus to herself! And be through with it soon!! I'm not ready to be in sick mode this early in the school year! But on the plus side, her class is reading Sarah Plain and Tall this week which is one of my favorites! "Homeschooling" won't be so bad for a day or two if I get to read this little book again!
Just re-read this post ... Blessings to anyone who still reads this mommy dribble I call a blog. I blog more to journal now. I probably would have stopped blogging months ago (out of boredom with posting and busy-ness of life ) but I just can't stand to break ties with all my blog buddies. Besides someday I am going to want to remeber all this...Right?
Happy Monday!
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Ouch
My mouth hurts. I had a root canal Tuesday.
Evidentally there was still some infection in that canal before it was sealed off.
Now my whole cheek is swollen and I feel like my tooth could explode at any moment.
Ouch.
I hate pain.
I can see how someone who hurt all the time could become addicted to pain killers.
Speaking of, I am due some.
They don't help much but they make me able to sleep.
Hopefully the antibiotic will kick in and take that infection out.
I sure hope so because it is impossible to be a fun Mom, wife daughter, friend etc when your cheek and mouth are throbbing!
And i am all about being fun.
Ouch.
But not today.
Tell me about your ouches.
It will make me feel better.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
What happens in Canton...
Stays in Canton!
I'm taking SJ to Dallas to fly home to her sweet family in the morning. We have had a fun four days together. We shopped north Dallas, Canton, and even Corsicana, Texas! We walked to much, spent too much, ate too much, got too lost in Tyler,Texas and laughed until we needed Depends! My legs hurt from walking, my back hurts from pushing that Canton cart all over, and my sides hurt from laughing. But my heart is so happy to have had these days with my dear friend! I wish she lived closer!
I have now been bitten by the Canton bug! Anyone want to go in November? December? (I have rules though. Only on Thursday or Friday and NO KIDS ALLOWED! Sorry but I've done it with kids and it's just not fun. for. anyone. )
Must go get some sleep so I will be able to get SJ to her plane on time! Hope you all had a great weekend! Hope to tell you more later but I can't tell much because that my new rule... What happens in Canton, stays in Canton!
Just wondering... Have you ever been to Canton? If so, what did you think? What was your favorite buy? vendor? food? tip? place to park? Etc? I will answer in comments when I get back!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Halloween Preview
Now getting a good picture of all three of them dressed up may be next to impossible.
Especially with the littlest tooty boots in the mix!
But great pictures or not, it looks to be a rootin' tootin' Halloween! Di I ever mention how much I love this time of year? Thought so.
They may even wear these outfits again for Christmas pictures...We are from Texas after all!
Friday, September 21, 2007
No justice on Earth
If you have read this blog for a long time, you might remember me blogging about a third grade teacher from our little Elementary school who died of an intentional overdose in April 2006. Her name was Kari Baker. (You can read those post here and again here.) Our little school was broken hearted at the loss of this young mother and teacher. But what I remember most (that I did not dare blog about at the time) were the immediate whispers of many who suspected that Kari did not take her own life. I mean it was in the first 24 hours after her death that people started suspecting her husband. Those whispers grew to groans as people saw her husband dating just weeks after Kari's death. But he was a minister, and no one wants to think a minister.... I can't even finish the sentence.
Though I do not think it is good to listen to gossip, it was really hard to believe that Kari Baker would abandon her kids. She was not he happiest person I ever met, but she loved her girls and her family dearly. The weekend of her death she had planned a family gathering to celebrate her Grandmothers good report from MD Anderson. Third grade was busy getting ready for the TAKS test that was just a week and a half away. Kari decided that she wanted to teach older kids and had a great job interview the very afternoon before the night she died. She told friends the interview went great and was very excited. Kari had made plans to meet people on Saturday and had volunteered to watch other peoples kids the following week. It just didn't add up.
Today this was the lead news story in our town. The headline says it all...Preacher Arrested for Murdering Wife (I'll post the whole article in the post prior to this one in case the link does not work.)
As happy as I am that Matt Baker, a man who may have robbed two little girls of their mother, two parents of their beloved daughter and 20 third graders of their teacher, might finally be brought to justice, it just seems a little too little a little too late. Maybe Kari's girls will know she did not leave them on purpose. Kari's name will have the awful stigma of suicide removed from it. Maybe justice will be served.
But no matter what the courts decide about Matt Baker's role in Kari's death, two little girls will not be getting their Mommy back. Two loving parents will carry the aching whole in their heart left by the death of their beloved daughter with them to their graves. Our little school, and more importantly the 20 kids who had Kari as a teacher, will never be the same. Her friends still miss her. Nothing the courts do to Matt Baker will change that. Is there really any true justice in this world?
The case against Matt Baker is not all that strong when it comes to physical evidence, or so it seems thus far. I pray for everyone involved, that if he killed Kari, he will just confess and get this whole ordeal over with as soon as possible. It seems the end of all this is still very far off. But today was a victory for Kari, and no matter what the courts say, the people who knew and loved her know that she did not kill herself. Please pray for this family and this situation. God bless them all!
Preacher Arrested for Murdering Wife
From the KXXV website. (There are also articles on KWTX.com and in the Waco Trib)
Preacher Arrested for Murdering Wife
Sep 21, 2007 11:40 PM CDT
by Mark Kurtz
WACO - A former Central Texas preacher accused of murdering his wife has been arrested.
Matt Baker was arrested late Friday afternoon in Kerrville. He was booked into the Kerr County Jail around 5:00 p.m. Friday.
It was originally believed that 31-year-old Kari Lynn Baker killed herself by overdosing on sleeping pills at the couple's Hewitt home in April of 2006. Three months after the teacher's death, toxicology tests found sleeping and diet pills in her system. Kari's family never believed she took her own life and have said Matt killed her all along.
Just this week, the same Justice of the Peace who originally ruled Kari's death a suicide, changed his ruling and listed her death as undetermined.
Friday morning, an arrest warrant was issued for Baker. Police documents obtained by News Channel 25, show Matt Baker used prescription and over-the-counter medication and alcohol to render his wife defenseless. He then used a pillow to suffocate her to death.
The documents also say he researched "overdose by sleeping pill" on his work computer at the Waco Center for Youth and tried to make Kari's death look like a suicide. The documents also say Baker was seeking a romantic relationship with another woman before Kari died. Several days after her death, Baker was seen at Richland Mall in Waco looking at engagement rings with a woman.
Kari's mother told News Channel 25 on Friday she believes justice will be done and Matt will be convicted in a court of law.
Baker has been living in Kerrville, which is about 60 miles northwest of San Antonio, and working as a youth pastor and a substitute teacher. He was teaching Friday at Tivy High School in Kerrville before he was taken into custody.
Baker is expected to be brought back to McLennan County to face charges.
For a complete look at the three page arrest documents click on the links provided.
Matt Baker Arrested for Murder
Matthew Baker Arrest Affidavit pg1
Matthew Baker Arrest Affidavit pg2
Matthew Baker Arrest Affidavit pg3
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Hospitals and brain burps
Last Sunday the guest preacher had a great illustration comparing churches to hospitals. I can not say it as well as he did but he started out asking when you are sick what do you look for in a hospital? Good coffee? Good food? Nice decor? Great parking?Comfortable chairs? Doctors who are really funny and know how to wow a crowd? Of course not. You go to a hospital looking for a cure. You want doctors who know what they are doing. Decor is nice, but you want from a hospital is medicine, treatment, therapy, a plan to beat your illness and hope that you will be OK. He said people come to churches for the same things...answers, help, a plan to get better, salvation, hope, someone who cares. We live in a fallen world where all have sinned and fallen short. We all need a cure for this world and Jesus is the only cure. As he was speaking his illustration it made perfect sense to me. I thought he had great points. His sermon inspired the following brain burp...read at your own risk.
As I thought the hospital illustration and the church it did not seem to fit if you take it beyond a life or death crisis.. And the more I think about it, the more I wonder if this is why churches struggle to be relevant to people at times. Yes, the church is here to be Jesus. Yes, Jesus is the cure for the world. Churches are here to bring people to the cure. But does the world really know it is sick? Do I really think I am sick? Do people realize they need Jesus? Do I? Have churches accidentally conformed to some type of religious country club because people don't like hospitals. They don't want to be told they are sick, they just want fellowship and nice place to live. Who would want to live in a hospital? Who really wants to conform to a regimented lifestyle of medication , therapy, diet and health restrictions? Who wants to live like they are sick? Can churches be hospitals for the soul? People don't want to live in a hospital state. They want to get well and leave.. And not all of them will desire to become doctors, no matter how grateful they are to be cured. In fact most don't. They leave the doctoring to the doctors. We only go to the hospital when we have to... and we leave as soon as we can.
So I was thinking... what in life can illustrate the relationship of people to the church? I instantly thought of grocery stores. You have to go to the grocery store to get food to nourish your body. Everyone needs groceries. Everyone has to eat. But the grocery store illustration puts churches in a position to cater to a consumer mind set. That just isn't what Jesus intended for his church...at least in my mind.
So then I thought about people needing Churches as they do employment. You have to earn a living. You need to work as a team and use your talents. Everyone has to get money from somewhere. But I have problems thinking of the blood of Christ as a paycheck since we could never earn it on our own so that doesn't work.
The thing is the our relationships to churches and to Jesus just don't conform to the examples of our world. They are unique and upside down in relation to our culture. If you think I am going somewhere with this, sorry! Just thinking on-line. Not sure I have any answers. In fact it seems to me that the older I get, the less I feel I know. The questions are multiplying by the day but the answers are harder and harder to come by. Sometimes in life I feel like I am back in preschool Bible class where every kid knows that the right answer to every question asked is Jesus, even though they don't understand the reasoning or the whys. Anyone else feel this way? Just wondering...
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Blog, What blog?
Sorry. I have been out for a while. Since school stated almost three weeks ago life has been going by so fast. I thought it would slow down. It hasn't. If anything it is going faster and faster. There have been many days when the computer hasn't even been turned on. Keeping up with e-mail has been a challenge. But I think things are going to wind down a bit now that we are in the "school routine."
I haven't blogged much about my little EK lately. She is growing like a weed! If I were to pick one word to describe her it would be BUSY!
Do I look like trouble or what?
The girl never stops moving! At 14 months some are surprised to find her walking...WALKING!? That was old news four months ago! This girl is running, climbing, jumping, and dancing her way into everything! She can out run kids twice her age and may be able to out climb a few of them. I have found her on top of the kitchen table, the counter top, and the washer.. and that's just today! She has no fear. She loves to explore. Her favorite thing to do is to take the lid off a box and dump all its contents out. She is also fond of scribbling on anything she can with a pen, pencil, crayon or close facsimile. Pictures. Everyone tells me they want pictures of Ella Kate.
Yes I am wearing an apron, brown capris and cowboy boots.
Well I do too! Good luck getting any! We went through two photo sessions with a local photographer in the last month. After an hour of trying to get Ella Kate to just sit or stand still and smile long enough to get a picture each time... we gave up! It doesn't happen. She is never still. And if she is still she will not even glance towards the camera. It's a side view or an action shot of her running the other way. I think EK is adorable and has the sweetest little smile, but in pictures she is just a blur. You need video to capture this girl!
I don't want to smile!
Although this week a video might even be a stretch. Ella Kate fell outside on the patio (trying to climb a folding chair) and banged her mouth and nose up pretty badly. She is pretty pathetic looking. There was a lot of blood. CSI might convict me of murder with the splatters Ella Kate sneezed through out my kitchen during the ordeal. She seems OK though. I called to see if we needed to take her in to see if her nose was broken, but the nurse said it is very rare for a 14 month old to break their nose as the nose bones are still pretty pliable at this age. Besides there is not much they can do. 
It's not easy being 14 months old!
The nurses at Dr K's office recognize me by my voice. Last week when I called to see if we could come in for an X-ray when she saw my name on caller ID the nurse answered the phone asking "What has Ella Kate done now?" That time EK needed to have an x-ray to see if she had swallowed some spiral shaped paper clips. She was choking when I pulled three out of her throat and I didn't know if more had been swallowed. The X-ray did not show paper clips or any other foreign substances in her tummy, which was such a huge relief! But it was relief laced with the fear of what she will find her way into next. This little girl keeps me on my toes! You can not leave her alone for a minute...which also explains my recent absence from blog world. An active 14 month old and blogging do not mix.
Which reminds me that I need to go. You can bet if I'm not blogging, I'm just trying my best to keep up with Ella Kate and our family's full schedule. Gotta run! Happy Thursday blog world!
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Six years ago today...
God blessed us with the birth of this little guy. I have much more I want to say about this but this old malfunctioning computer, a stressful PTA deadline and Miss Ella Kate are not going to give me much time to reflect or blog today. However, I couldn't let the day slip away without saying how special this boy and this day are to us! Happy Birthday Rhett!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Let the magic begin
Kindergarten is "the magic year" when ...
Little kids turn into students.
There is still a nap or rest time.
The first day is spent chasing the gingerbread men your class colored all over the school only to find the papers have transformed into cookies and are waiting for you in your own new classroom.
Everybody is the new kid.
It's a thrill to eat the first few trays of cafeteria food.
There is story time after lunch and snack time after recess.
Everyday you start with your clip on white, no matter how many color changes you received the day before.
There are no spelling tests, math tests, or graded readings test.
The grades are either S's for satisfactory or N's for needs improvement, no F's for failure.
Kindergarten.
The magic year.
For Rhett it began today.
It was everything he hoped for...
Except that he didn't get to ride a school bus home because we live too close to the school.
But he loved it.
Said he made 19 new friends today and thinks he wants to go back tomorrow!
It has begun.
Rhett getting his Kindergarten Bible at church Sunday.
Look at that Kindergartner!
The first day of school!
With Mrs H. Mrs H. may look familiar as she was Kolby's K teacher and is Mom to our "first third child" McKenna (who I kept for a year when Rhett was 2 and she was Ella Kate's current age.) Mrs H and her family are some of our favorite people!
Miss Kolby also started a magical year...4TH GRADE!
In our school, 4th grade is the senior class. They are the top dogs! Fourth graders have lots of fun as this is their last Elementary year. Next year it is on to the Intermediate School! (Doesn't that just sound so intimidating! INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL!)
Kolby's teacher is also named Mrs. H! Kolby really likes her and so do I. This year will be a test for Kolby in some ways because for the first time she ended up in a different class from every one of her good girl friends. I hate that for her ! But I know my social butterfly will find some new friends very soon. She also is not going to let a few walls keep her from her old friends. I can't believe Kolby is already in the 4th grade! Seems like just a year or so ago that we were dropping her off in Kindergarten! It goes so fast! How do I slow this ride down???? :)
This will be the only year Kolby and Rhett ever share a school if we stay in this school district. I wish they could share a campus a few more years. They are both excited to be in school together, but neither would readily admit to that!
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Waterslide/Transfomer/ Blast-off Birthday Party
Last Night was Rhett's "Water slide Transformer K Blast-off Birthday party." With a theme like that I did not have any choice but to do the cake myself! I actually bought an undecorated cake from Sam's and then built the slide from frozen pound cake I bought at the grocery. A few straws, wooden skewer, one recipe each of royal and stiff buttercream icing, a few action figures and a couple of mid-night hours and WA-Lah We had a WATER SLIDE,TRANSFORMER, BLAST-OFF, BIRTHDAY CAKE! Rob thinks I am crazy to spend so much time on a cake...But when my 5 (almost 6) year old son tells me I am "the best Mom in the world for making that awesome cake"...Well, I think it is time well spent!
Revised on 8-26
This was a really fun party that we have been looking forward to all summer! Rhett was barely able to contain his excitement in the days and hours leading up to his "Blast-off Birthday" as he usually calls it. It was hard work getting it all set up, but once the party started, it was a breeze!
Te water slide was the main attraction.
Water balloon baseball was also a hit.
We graduated to a "hit" pinata this year. No more pull string pinatas for this guy! The "light saber" noodle fights on the trampoline and the water cannons were also a hit. We had a great group of kids. Three or four of these kids have been at every one of Rhett's parties starting when he was 1! The fact that they are all off to school in a few days... I am not ready to think about it! There were no injuries, no fights, no fits and no tears. I was amazed how well all the kids shared and got along!
Afterwards Rhett got to do something he has wanted to do all summer... He had his cousins spend the night! These three are a hoot! They were so funny, all wanting to sleep in the same trundle bed.
Rhett has told me over and over it was the best party of his life.... though I'm not convinced he remembers the first three! It was a really good night. and a great way to end our long summer.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Last days of Summer
We have been pretty busy these last two weeks. You know about the air conditioner, but before that we took a few days off to do some fun things and meet with friends.
We started off with a trip to Six Flags. Well actually I dropped Rob and the kids off at Six Flags and Ella Kate and I went shopping and checked into the hotel. We met up with everyone for dinner. I thought going to Six Flags after the sun went down would be OK with a 13 month old.
I was wrong. It was still too hot. But w had a good time and were very excited to get back to the hotel!
The next day we met up with the Jenkins and went to The Star Wars Exhibit at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. 
Knowing our families love of all things Star Wars, you can imagine how fun that was! Then after lunch at Joe T's we all headed over to Frisco to stay with some other friends.
If you have read this blog before you may remember we talking about the "Fort Worth Friends" which is a group of four families that all used to live in Fort Worth together when our first babies were born. These four families were not original to the area and had no family there, so we became a little family. Anyway with in a few years we had all moved away, but have gotten together four times in the last five years for a reunion. Sadly our Houston family had a sick child and could not make it. But we had a great, relaxing two days visiting and letting the kids play.
As you read in the previous post, we came home from this weekend at 10:30pm on Sunday night to find our air conditioner had gone out , probably the day after we left. Our house was so hot! And then through some weird turns and twists, we ended up featured on the local 10 o'clock news!
These are pictures from the live remote broadcast from my aunt's lawn. (where we were staying)
We got home late Wednesday. Our house finally reached the 70's by late Wednesday night. Thursday night we had a t-ball swim party at a friends house. By this point I had lost track of the camera. Elizabeth was there so I hope she will send me some pics (hint, hint) Friday Kolby had a few school friends over to water slide and watch High School Musical 2. 
WOW was it a loud night! (Does anyone else have "Hey batter batter, hey batter batter swing" stuck in their head?) It was fun to see some girls we hadn't seen all summer and HSM2 did not disappoint... Well, except for the fact that they cut Kolby's favorite song from the soundtrack out of the movie. Something tells me the song will come out in the movie eventually though...maybe as a bonus feature on the DVD? :) One more HSM2 thing to look forward to! :)
Early Saturday Rob went back to the metro-plex for the Church State Softball Tournament. He and the team were home by dinner...but they had fun! Sunday I worked nursery, we went to lunch with the fam and I spent some quality time in Target celebrating Tax Free Weekend while Rhett and Kolby entertained cousins Justin and Whitney with their Daddy at home.
Today is Rhett's "Special day" with Aunt Sari. They left around 9am and are not due back until tonight. Tomorrow is Kolby's turn. Wednesday I have some major dental work scheduled. Thursday is Rhett and Kolby's BLAST-OFF at school where we meet their teachers and put all their school supplies in their desk. Friday we are having Rhett's birthday party with the water slide in the back yard. Saturday is Rhett's first Soccer game. Then we will try to rest and gear up for the start of school next Tuesday!
So that is our plan for the last days of summer! It's a busy time... especially when you throw in the fact that Rob is starting back to grad school this week. I think I am ready for school to start so that maybe life will slow down! Yeah right! I know! The crazy Fall rush has begun! Now if we could only get some Fall like weather....
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Home Sweat Home
Yeah. That wasn't a typo! We are home.
The air conditioner has been repaired thanks to the resourcefulness and stick-to-it-ness of my husband! Well, sorta repaired. It's still in the 80's in here, but it is slowly cooling off. The AC guy (who was great!) is coming in the morning to finish the job. We could have stayed away another night but we were all really ready to come home. Just last week I was telling someone how we never go anywhere and how I wanted break from my house....Be careful what you wish for! The last week has been quite an adventure.
I hope to tell more of the story when I have had some sleep, a shower, and the temperature of my house is in the 70's! But as crazy and exhausting as the past week has been, it has also been lots of fun! I'm thankful for so much right now! Here's a short list for starters
I'm thankful for...
Old friends who make you feel so comfortable and cherished when you are with them that you are able to pick up right where you left off. And the fact that our kids got along so well and played together with very little input from us... It was just a great week end!
My kids who have kept the perspective positive by viewing every night away from home as a vacation, even if we were just across the street. Kolby and Rhett were little troopers and I am so proud of them. EllaKate has had her issues, but for a 13 month old on antibiotics with nasty sinus infection who hasn't slept in her own bed in a week AND managed to fall on her head at least once a day... she did pretty good!
My parents and sister who at first welcomed us and then helped us with every thing when they became fellow broken air-conditioner refugees! They are probably really tired of us, but they still keep offering to keep us until the AC is back to 100%. They must really love us!
My aunt and cousins who took us in and let us hang out, eat their food and visit like we used to in the old times before we all lived here. All the kids made it challenging at times, but I would not take for any of them! Some of my fondest chidhood memories are of summer days and nights spent with my cousins. It's fun to do that again all these years later with our kids! I am so glad my kids are making great memories with their cousins. It was a fun two nights!
My husband who refused to give up when we were told it might be another week before the special order parts were in. Rob truly saved the day by calling parts dealers all over the state directly and searching until the parts were found...and right here in Waco! Rob even endured the 105+attic to get all the numbers off our AC unit! It's sort of a long story but, if he hadn't done what he did, we might still have been across the street wearing out our welcome! (Mom and Dad's air conditioner was repaired this morning.)
I'm thankful that I live in Texas in 2007 instead of 1907. Truly. How do those with out AC survive? I get so cranky and flustered in the heat. Why do we live in Texas? I ask myself this every August.
I'm grateful that God has provided for us as always. It looked like this week was going to be the worst, but it wasn't. We are home. And we were taken care of when we couldn't be home. I'm overwhelmed at the ways God chooses to teach us and bless our lives. Even on hot, crazy, unbelievable days!
Thanks for all the prayers and fond wishes. It's nice to have the blog family when I need to vent my frustrations, ask for prayers or just share the up and downs of this life. I always feel I have a blog family rooting for me! Thanks!
It's SSSSSOOOOOO good to be home!
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