Not away from the Manger anymore...

One of the many great things about having a 16 month old in the house at Christmas is being able to witness Christmas for the first time again through her eyes.  It tickles my heart to get to see her "aah" (or in her case "oooohhh") at each new thing that comes along in the season. The other day we were looking at something with a Santa Claus on it and I asked "Ella Kate can you say Santa?" and said it very slow several times.  

Rhett walked by and asked what I was doing. I explained that we are going to get to teach Ella Kate all about Christmas this year and continued my "SANTA" speak.  On his way out of the room Rhett said "Don't you think we should teach her Jesus first?" 

gulp!

Yeah. 

We should. 

I don't think Rhett meant to rock my world or make any great theological statement with his statement/question. It was a very uncharacteristic thing for him to say and he was gone before I realized what he had said. But I have not been able to get those words out of my mind... Don't you think we should teach her Jesus first? 

I grew up in a Christian tradition that did not think it was Christian to celebrate Christmas as Christ's birthday. The irony of that last sentence and that whole way of thinking now blows me away. It was so backwards because we still celebrated Christmas.. just with Santa, Rudolph, Frosty and gifts, but not with baby Jesus. And we thought people who did were wrong. 

Even though I lived it, it now makes no sense to me why anyone would think it is more Christ-like to celebrate with Santa and not Jesus.  Did I really believe that? 

I don't blame my parents, or really anyone else, because they were doing what they thought was right at the time. I am glad most in that same "tradition" have re-evaluated and decided Christians can and should center Christmas, as well as most every other event in life, around Christ.  I find it very hard to relate to the those who still think celebrating Christ during Christmas is un-Christian... but that is another blog. 

For me, coming out of the the "no Christ in Christmas thing" is sort of like people in the 60's and 70's coming out of racism from a purely theoretical view only! Just like those who grew up considering other human beings less human because of their skin color could not imagine why or how they ever felt or believed that way, I too cringe at the past.  But just because you don't believe or feel that way, it's still not so easy to "make friends" with the thing you avoided for years. It takes time and purposed thinking.

However, even though I want Christ to be the center of our Christmas, I do not think that Santa is all bad. I do not think you have to leave Santa out of Christmas to be a good Christian and have problems understanding Christians who are anti-Santa. I like Santa and the idea of Santa. My kids still get presents from Santa on Christmas morning and we have Santa pictures made every year. I have all sorts of Santa's all over my house.  Though I am not sure how to feel about the whole "is Santa real thing", I don't want to leave Santa out of our Christmas.

To add to my Christmas confusion, over the top materialism steeped in commercialism under the guise of capitalism has made Christmas the great national economic make-or-break season. Consumerism has nothing to do with  Christ or Santa Claus. Sometimes I feel like Christmas has become a big celebration of the dollar, a season when our actions teach that happiness comes from gifts and love and affection are measured by the amount of money you spend on gifts, entertaining and decorations for your family, friends and loved ones. I don't want to be a part of that, but we all are to some extent. Like it or not.

So what do we want to teach Ella Kate about Christmas?  Though I don't profess to have all the answers, to help with this I gave the kids an early present yesterday. They opened it and have had a great time playing with it, especially Ella Kate. She loves to stack, rearrange, chew-on, carry around and even play hide and seek with the pieces. It's one of those thing I want them to enjoy during this and many Christmas seasons to come.

And no, a toy nativity scene does not answer all the questions and issues out there about Christmas. 

But in my own house, 

in my own way, 

no matter what the season, 

I want to try to always show my children Jesus first.  

Merry Christmas! 

Merry Christmas

revised a bit at noon, just because...
I heard this song by Third Day last night and it made me cry.. and smile... and think of a couple of friends of mine. I added my friend Julie to my blog list a few weeks ago after reconnecting with her at Farm Fest. Julie and her family are in the process of adopting a little girl from the Ukraine. This song also made me think of Kolby's good friend who was adopted from China and my PTA friend who has adopted two precious girls from China. There are many other 'dopted (per Rhett) friends we know and love.

My Dad was adopted. Adoption was not as accepted back in that day. I think he felt like a black sheep at times when he was with his extended family. (Some even put clauses like "blood relatives" in their wills! Can you imagine? Not the type people I would want to spend Christmas with! ) However his parents could not have loved him any more.

Adoption has come a long way since the 1940's! And I think families who adopt kids are special in God's eyes because all but one of God's children were adopted! And to think he sacrificed that one to free the rest of us. He could not love us any more! We are a big global family. And even though we can still feel like black sheep when we get with other brothers and sisters in Christ, God sacrificing his only son washed our black fleece white as snow. God loves us as he loves his son. What a gift! Something to think about as many in our world celebrate (even if it is brief and superficial) the birth of Jesus! What a true boost to the real spirit of Christmas!

Oh, and go check out Julie's blog! She and her hubby plan to journey to the Ukraine this March to meet their daughter. I can scarcely imagine what they are feeling and the anticipation... Won't it be fun to get to tag along through the magic of blog land! I can't wait to see the first pictures of Miss Halle Grace!

Merry Christmas!

Cold and Rainey

And I LOVE it!

The Saturday after Thanksgiving finds me pretty far along in the self prescribed Christmas spirit therapy I blogged about last week. Though I have not watched "It's a Wonderful Life," I have listened to Christmas music. Yesterday morning I got up very early and went shopping. I had not planned on it. But I woke up at 5am and could not go back to sleep and thought I might as well. After all, I knew Rob and the kids would be fine without me since they were sleeping and I only wanted to go to Target. So I went.

I did save money but it wasn't the sale prices that really drew me in. I mostly bought things I was going to get anyway, and some were not on that great of a sale. It was just the idea of being able to shop in my sweats without make-up, without the kids, and with-out a deadline, while getting things scratched off my list early... that's what motivated me to face the crowds!

There were CROWDS! The line was the longest I have ever seen in my life. I had no idea that many people could fit in Target! I almost left, but could not figure out where I would go and since I was there... I had a great time. The big crowds were happy and I thought it was sorta fun. I was in the store by 6:10am and out by 7:30am! I did get some bargains. We did not buy a printer when we got the new computer even though the old one was dead. So I picked up a printer for less than the cost of my old ink cartridge refills. I also got some great towels for our "new" bathroom. AND {THIS IS BIG} I finished Christmas shopping for all the kids on my list! REALLY!

What I did not get in the stores yesterday morning, I finished on-line when I got home with free shipping! No more venturing out to toy stores or electronic stores waiting for that certain something to come in. I only have five adults left to buy for! YEAH! So I may be crazy for getting up and out so early, but I am really happy about it today...and I slept for 12 hours last night!

We also put our tree up last night. It is one of those pre-lit 9 ft things that takes up half the living room and requires both Rob and I to lift and assemble. (Even though I know it is better for the environment, we do not have real trees because there are three asthmatics who live in this house who all seem to be allergic to real trees.. and we like to breathe during the month of December!) There is a lot of fluffing to do, but after it's up I love plugging it in and finding all the lights glowing perfectly in place. I have loved this tree since Rob gave it to me as an early birthday present five years ago. But last night as we assembled each section, there were black out areas. The lights just would not come on. We jiggled each bulb and tested the little circuits in the plugs, but nothing. Luckily we could turn the sections around to where the black spots were in the back...until we reached the top. The whole top section was out. We tried to revive it for an hour. Then I went to Walmart and bought a box of lights. Rob wrapped them on and we stuck it up. It will do for this year, but I am going to be searching those after Christmas sales for a new tree for next year.

So it isn't even December and most of my presents are bought and the tree is lit and standing... ornaments should be on by Sunday night. I'm in a good place! What a difference a week can make! Don't get too envious of my new "ahead of the Christmas game" status... I still have to decorate the rest of the house, decorate outside (but not today!) and then get the traditional Christmas picture/card process rolling.... But I will be a bit more chipper doing it now that I have a handle on the Christmas season. And the sudden change in our weather sure helped! I could not get into Christmas when I was wearing short sleeves and sweating! But snuggled up at home in my thick socks and comfy sweaters... This is great Christmas mood weather!

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Yeah! It's Monday!

So we survived. We had the appraisal. It went well. The man said our house would have no problem appraising for what we wanted.  I was way over anxious about the whole "inspect and take pictures part." 

We almost finished the bathroom (pictures will follow when it is COMPLETELY done.) Of course I had about 20 more things I wanted get done on my list of to do's, but that is not too unusual these days. I was whining about not getting everything on my list done more often than not in front of my Dad a few nights ago. He wisely said "Make shorter lists." Hmmm? Could it really be that simple? Food for thought...

Anyway my house is clean, which is always a good going into the holiday season. I think we will try to get the Christmas tree up this weekend.  I can not for the life of me get into the Christmas spirit! Maybe it is because it is still in the high 70s or 80s most days? And I have not bought a single present? In fact I don't even have a list!  To cure myself of the "bah hum-bugs",this week I plan to start playing Christmas music, watch It's a Wonderful Life and buy at least four Christmas presents. I am really excited (maybe a  bit scared?) about how Ella Kate will react to all the Christmas decorations! One of her new favorite things is to say "ooohhh!" or even "oh Owe!"  (oh wow) She is at such a fun age! 

OK a fun age, but she is seriously making her guardian angel work over time!  I have looked up to find her near the street in our front yard several times lately. She loves to climb up and dance on top of the kitchen table when we look away. She puts everything in her mouth... still! It's a challenge to keep up with her. 

The other day I searched the house and after 20 minutes of not finding EK almost called 911 thinking she had been abducted.  The doors to Rhett's and Kolby's rooms were closed so I did not think she was in there, but finally I looked anyway. The first run through in Rhett's room I did not see or hear anything. But the next time (with tears streaming) I paused from screaming out her name in panic mode long enough to hear a rustle of the sheets in the tent that covers the top bunk.  When I ripped the flap back, there she was and she died laughing! I was so glad to find her I just started crying and laughing and scolding all at the same time. She thought I was a wacko!  

Ella Kate is a hider and I am her favorite though unwilling seeker. We have repeated this 'game' imany times. A few times I have been in sheer terror/ panic mode before finding her. I hope to learn all her favorite hiding places before I have a coronary. Motherhood is not for the faint of heart! 

The kids get out tomorrow for THANKSGIVING!  YEAH!  We have much to be thankful for this year. I am a blessed woman. I love that there is a holiday made just for being thankful! Hope you all have a large serving of gratitude along with your turkey, football and (if you are crazy enough to brave the "black Friday crowds") shopping! 

Home is where the...

MESS IS!!!!!
Rant/Vent warning!

My house is a disaster. It is much harder to remodel by myself and keep up with a 16 month old and a busy family at the same time than I thought. I have been trying to do things at night but I am not getting much sleep and am pretty worthless the next day. It's going slow. I've made some big mistakes. I need tools we do not have. Nothing is finished. This project is getting to me.

Yesterday I got a call from the appraiser who I thought was just going to do a drive-by appraisal on our house... But no. He called to make an appointment with me as a walk through has been requested by the mortgage company for our re-fi. (Did I mention we are re-financing and going to save a whole lot of $$$ every month? Yeah!!)

"A walk through? " I ask looking over piles of drop clothes, mounds of sanding dust, carpet that was once white and is now grayish brown, and acres of trim and walls that need to be painted.

" Yes. We will come in and measure, check out your major built in appliances, look at the general condition of the house and take some pictures. It shouldn't take more than an hour."

Did he say pictures!!!??? He is going to take PICTURES...of MY HOUSE...on the INSIDE! I resisted the urge to faint and talked him into waiting to come until Monday... even though the appraisal has to be in by next Tuesday for us to be able to close this month, which for a million reasons we need/have to do.

As soon as I hung up the phone my life was rudely shoved into the hurried, massive "finish it all and clean-up operation" I now find myself escaping by taking a few minutes to blog and answer e-mail. There is not enough Calgon in the world to take me away from this!

On top of that...

Ella Kate went to bed fine but woke up with an awful cold. (How does that happen?)

I just discovered I bought enamel instead of latex. Everything I painted last night is still sticky, and collecting dust... Which means drying, sanding and re-painting and more $$ for more paint.

I am supposed to be "helping' at school this week. Ha!

Rob has huge papers due this week and big projects at work = He can not save me.

Did I mention Ella Kate is FUSSY!?

Rhett is making all his numbers backwards.

Kolby is not getting long division.

My parents and sister have their own big fish to fry this week/weekend.

Most of my friends have sick kids.

And I can not find my sink under all the dishes piling up since the dishwasher refuses to load itself! (hate that!)

Truly home improvement projects are meant for professionals, with skills, tools, experience and know how. Ordinary people who have a toddler should NOT try these things at home! HGTV says start at home but do they know what that means? Leave this to the professionals, people who do not need to be math tutors, writing instructors, fun playmates, nurses, maids, chauffeurs. People who do nat have to figure out what's for dinner tonight and then actualy get all the stuff and make it! Remind me of this next time I talk about re-decorating!

In the mean time I am going to keep telling myself what I tell my kids when they freak out over life.... "This is not a bad problem. It is a good problem because no one is bleeding, hurting or dead. Nothing is under water or on fire. (though I feel a figurative fire burning beneath my rear as I sit here because I need to get up and get going!) Everything is OK or will be OK. This is not a real crisis. Breathe. God is in control. Breathe."

And somehow that helps.

Check back in with me after next Monday. I will survive this week/weekend!
Breathe...

Tips for a Tuesday

If you are painting a wall a dark color and have light colored flooring, use a drop cloth.

No matter how good an idea it seems at 2am, it is not wise to mix old and new paints to come up with your own "custom color." This especially true if you neglected to mix enough to finish the room... and then forgot exactly how much of each color you added. FTL! (for the love for any not familar with vintage BST blog speak)

If you decide to use the electric sander to sand all the cabinets and trim in your bathroom, wear a mask or, be prepared to have your lungs sting.

It is possible to spray paint a ceiling fan and have it not look like you spray painted a ceiling fan.

Measure twice, cut once.

Buy extra molding. It saves on trips to Home Depot if you neglect that last tip.

If the biggest problem you have in a day concerns remodeling your bathroom, shut up and be grateful.

If you are near a HEB grocery store, you HAVE to try the Homestyle two-bite Pumpkin Walnut Scones. The Orange Cranberry ones are equally drool inducing, but I have a thing for pumpkin this time of year.

If you have a scone recipe that you like, pass it it along to me and I just might send you a prize! Really! Kolby and Rhett are into scones because of the orange scones from Panera Bread, but I'm a scone making virgin... so to speak.

I love this song. Hope you do to...

Anyway

I was going to blog about this song a while back. But I decided it would be better to just let you hear it.

I keep thinking of our Princess in Honduras tight now. Hope the best for you Terri!

I added a new playlist to the right of this blog. You can skip to the next song or turn the music off. AND If you have not created a play list at project playlist, follow the link from my playlist and have fun!

OH and... I have lost some links to blogs in my moving to the new computer/new template process. Leave me your site address in comments if you don't see it in my links list. If you are reading my blog, I probably want to read yours!

New title

I don't have anything to say that would not take me an hour or so to say. I don't want to blog for an hour, but I am tired of that atheist title. It bugs me. So I had to blog today just to change the title.

Notice the new slide show.

I am able to do some things with the new computer that the old one could not do. OK. So those "things' are really important things (she said with her tongue in her cheek) like blog slide shows and watching all of this seasons episodes of Grey's Anatomy on-line for free. But hey, I'm learning!

My goal is to learn how to get the files and pictures I want to keep from the old computer's operating system (windows 98) transferred and workable on the new computer's system (Mac OS Leopard). It's supposed to be easy(according to the Mac website) if the old operating system and the new operating system are both working just as they should. However, I am not convinced either are doing that. I've spent many frustrating hours sitting in front of this beautiful new monitor. I think I need a Genius and a Geek or preferably someone who is both? Does that person exist in the world of on-line help? I can't find them but I'm open to help looking or introductions!

Must do laundry. Don't you wish clothes would just wash, dry, and put themselves away!

If I were an atheist

What would I think about as I pulled down wall paper?

 

The other day while we were de-papering different rooms in our house, I kept thinking of Christian life analogies that could be drawn from the task at hand. For example I thought about how with all the millions of types and grades of wall paper in the world, all of them are usually just covering up the same old grey and white sheet rock and how God cares about the condition of  our sheet rock not so much about the outer paper we put on to dress our selves up.  I came up with several more... 

The same happens when I find myself painting,  building, taking a walk or even just cleaning something. My mind is always drawing comparisons and coming up with little analogies about life, church, loving each other and God . I guess it is mind/soul candy during otherwise boring tasks? Or maybe the product of growing up in Bible class? But I wonder... Does everyone do this? What if someone is not a Christian or does not believe in any God? Do those people find atheistic analogies in their tasks? Just wondering...

Now aren't you glad you took time out of your day to read my random thoughts? If I keep posting deep thoughts like this, I might get nominated for a Bloggie Award! (Do they really have those?)

Old dogs and New tricks

I am once again a Mac owner. 

I think (hope and pray!) I will  like it once I get used it... I'm just wondering how many years that will take! I am having to learn news ways of doing those little thing that were second nature on the old computer.  Blogging is a bit of challenge. However, I did change my template pretty easily today. But I just learned that there is no Picasa for Mac. I am heart broken. I loved editing, storing, uploading and ordering my pictures through Picasa. I do not know how I will do any of that, but I am sure I will soon learn. Macs have Iphoto but it does not do all the things Picasa did.  

I'm starting to wonder if we are ready to be a Mac family again. Nine years ago we gave our Mac to church and bought a Gateway because I wanted to get on the Internet and be able to do more with more software. Hopefully Mac has caught up with Micrsoft so I won't feel tempted to send it bak and buy a Dell.  I know Mac are supposed to be great. PC's crash and have tons of issues but most (free)software is made for a PC.  If I can just get my pictures to upload to be printed and figure out how to write the school newsletter on this new computer, I think I will feel much better. Any PC turned Mac users out there who have advice? 

In the mean time I am working on catching up after weeks of no or rare Internet service.  Last Monday there was an open house at Kolby and Rhett's school.  

My parents and sister went with us to see the kids classrooms, meet their teachers and oohh and aaahh over their work. 

Kolby and Rhett both entered pumpkins in the Library "Tour America" themed pumpkin decorating contest. All the entries had to be decorated like a famous landmark, person, motto or state theme. We really enjoyed seeing all pumpkins in the library Monday night. 

Rhett and I decorated his pumpkin to look like the Liberty Bell. 

Kolby and I used mini pumpkins, grey spray paint, and lots of "Great Stuff" spray insulation to make "Mt Rushmore."  It turned out cute. (If you ever use "Great Stuff' in any of your projects, be sure to heed the advice on the bottle and wear gloves. I didn't and I am still peeling layers of "stuff" off my fingers!) 

The kids and I learned a lot about the focus of each project. For instance, did you know that there is a scripture on the Liberty Bell? And that Mt. Rushmore was never finished?  I love how the librarian at Kolby's school always has such fun and creative educational idea!

Well that's all the updating I have time for now. We are sort of in a home improvement phase. The wall paper in my bathroom has been stripped to the sheet rock and I am about to go pull all the wall paper down from the entry way.  This place is a mess. 

My plate feels full and maybe a bit heavy right now. Wish I could learn the trick of being able to balance it all effortlessly! This week I will be trying to learn my new computer, get several home projects completed, keep up with our usual full schedule, attend at least part of a three day/night marriage seminar our church is sponsoring and... did I mention Kolby has fever and a soar throat? Yeah. It is one of those weeks! 

Hope you all have a great week! 

Happy Halloween!

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!

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!

IMac

I just got an e-mail that our IMac has shipped. I will not be blogging much until it gets here. I am excited and a bit nervpous about getting it. Our Gateway has been withus since Kolby was a baby. I have a gazillion things on this computer. But, it's time to move on. And look (below) at how clean it looks compared to a PC! I need something simple and uncluttered. Not sure what to do with the old computer or how to convert the files/ photos I really need to save. Anyone have any Mac/ conversion/ storage tips? Let me know what you think!

Halloween Howdy

What is so scary about being a cowgirl for Halloween?
?
Ask Ella Kate!

Yeah, it was a fun Sears photo session!

I was sweating by the time it was over. Kolby and Rhett were troopers, but little EK just didn't like being told where to sit, or stand, or to smile, or anything. She made us all work for these pictures...and work hard! But it is sorta funny looking back on it. I had to chuckle as I heard myself say "OK you guys step on her skirt so she can't run off again!" and "Hold on to her with your hand that does not show and hold on tight!" We did get good pictures but it was not easy!

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!)

Last year's Halloween Pictures...they all have grown so much!

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!

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? :)

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!

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.

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!

Halloween Preview

Rhett decided he wanted to be a cowboy this year and the girls went along. YES, I KNOW, THEY WILL NOT ALWAYS WANT TO DRESS ALIKE OR IN A THEME... but I will enjoy it as long as it lasts! And no, it really was their idea. I just ordered the costumes which were pretty cheap considering the boots, jean shirts and hats were already part of their wardrobes.

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!

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.

Over the last year and a half the the suspicions and doubts have turned into accusations, evidence, and cries for justice. The local police department really botched the investigation from the beginning by letting Kari be embalmed and buried without an autopsy, and by not treating her house as a crime scene. Kari's parents had to hire their own investigators and experts to plea for their daughters case to be reexamined. It has been very hard on them. But they have never given up and have remained steadfast in their belief that their daughter would not and did not take her own life. Kari's husband took the girls and moved away. The girls have not had a much relationship with their grandparents since because of their Dad.

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?

It makes me really happy to know that this life, while wonderful at times and full of blessings, is not all there is. It makes me smile to think of Kari and her daughter Kassidi (who died from cancer in 2001) someday waiting at the gates of Heaven to hug her parents and thank them for never giving up on her. And then someday I pray she will be able to welcome her two girls, who she loved so much, to heaven with open arms. I hope she will be able to tell them how much she has always loved them and never wanted to leave them. I get a little teary eyed thinking of that sweet reunion that seems so very far away.

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!