We Have No Shame

Trains, Planes and Automobiles

2012-01-24T17:32:00.001-06:00

First of all I have reached my goal for the American Cancer Society and have gone beyond! I am so thankful to all of you that helped me to raise money for such a great cause. I have a little less than two weeks and I will participate in my first ever half marathon. I am in no way prepared but I will have fun and will finish. Last I will be proud of myself; I have done something to help so many people.

Yesterday I started my last semester at Lonestar College. That is a great feeling, this fall I will be a full time student at The University of Houston. Wow I never pictured myself going to a four year university. The time is going so fast and I really do appreciate the education now, much more than I would have at 18.

*update, my ECON class makes me want to stab myself in the eye!

Recently I have decided to delete my FB page, at first I had major withdraw, seriously with nail biting and shakes. Unfortunately Dimples grandfather passed away two days later (completely unrelated to my deleted FB), and this gave me such whirlwind of a schedule that I no longer had time to complain that I was bored and there was nothing to do, such as read my "friends" updates. I now had to pack 4 people (punk#1 is with her Dad) for a last minute flight to Memphis for 4 days. Which means a ton of clothes, toys, activities for the airplane, etc. Not to mention punk #2 turned 6 the same day that we left Houston. This was the first time for both the littles to ride on an airplane, so a VERY big deal. I have to say the attendents for Southwest were very accommodating, they even announced the birthday girl's name and age, Dimples got to hold her up so everyone could see. This totally made her day.
-So back to topic- I know have a twitter account you can follow me by clicking that little button on the side ---> over there. It says follow me, in case you can't find it. This brilliant idea, that I really didn't want to do, is the brain child of my ECON professor, see update above. That should explain that well enough. All other classes are absolutely wonderful.

The hubs is home, fill you in more later.

Consider this our Merry Christmas Letter.

2011-12-18T10:16:00.003-06:00

WOW! It has been a very long time since I have blogged anything. Let me give you a quick update.

Still in school

Kids still crazy

yeah that covers it.

Lilly started kindergarten this year and is loving it. She is really growing so much. Mrs. L tells me that she is really quiet and shy and I just have to look at her as if she is speaking of aliens. My Lilly is not quiet! From the minute she walks in the door she does not stop talking or singing until it is time for bed, even then it is screaming that Caitlin won't leave her alone.

Caitlin the exact opposite from all my other posts about her. Not sure if I told you, but she was diagnosed with ADHD, now do you see why I have been gone for so long, we have decided not to medicate. She is in a half day pre-k program at Lilly's big girl school and is thriving. Now that she is going 5 days a week and our schedule seems pretty regular she really is doing so much better. Not even one phone call from the teacher, SCORE!

Natalie started 8th grade this year and is in all advanced classes. She makes me so proud every day. She has really grown into a young lady that isn't afraid to stand up for herself and make known what she is expecting. We are working a lot this year about respect and what it means and how it is shown. Again, I am really proud to be her mom.

Dimples and I are about to celebrate our 8th year of marriage in January. Oh how I love that man. Ok enough of the mushy gushy stuff.

This upcoming February my sister K, Natalie and I will all be running the Galveston Mardi Gras 1/2 Marathon! I am so excited and a little scared. I really don't want bloody toes. EWWW GROSS! Please visit my page with DetermiNation to read about my goals and to help support Natalie and me. K is on her own, I will win! Just kidding we are all going to cross that line together. Holding hands. Because we love each other.

I will really try not to be gone for so long this time. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Relay for Life

2011-02-16T11:17:00.000-06:00

My Reason to Relay

I am participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life because I want to make a meaningful difference in the fight against cancer.

Almost everyone has been touched by cancer, either through their own personal battle or through someone they love.

Every day, the American Cancer Society is helping us stay well by preventing cancer or finding it at its earliest, most treatable stages. They assist families in finding the best resources to help their friend or loved one deal with a diagnosis and their journey to get well. The American Cancer Society is also rallying communities (like ours!) through events like Relay For Life, to fight back and find cures for this disease.

Please join my team or make a donation to help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Together, we can help make sure that cancer never steals another year of anyone’s life!

If you are unable to donate online, please print a donation form to mail in your donation.

What? Don't you play this way?

2011-02-12T22:09:00.000-06:00

Saturday is soccer day in the No Shame household. Today was picture day and I am already pretty sure I will be disappointed in the quality of the shots. Well, I was standing on the sidelines when they were taken and there were no cute little poses. You know the ones like they have 1 foot on the ball, or sitting with 1 leg extended holding the ball... nothing! These cuties were just told to stand there. UGH, no wonder they want us to pre-pay! Anyway back to the fun story, Lilly has a little friend on her team that she also goes to MDO with. We will call her E since I completely forgot to get permission to talk about her on my blog....so E's mom just go ahead and sign off on that with a comment. Thanks. E and Lilly are both pretty little girls, so they were both put in the goal box. Look closely and tell me what is wrong with this picture?

This is what I was talking about with that creative title of mine, What? You don't play this way? They are holding hands. They pretty much stayed that way until the end of the game. THIS is what makes losing the game worth it. Might I add they make a great team, they blocked 2 goals this way. When taking a break, for that coveted juice box they don't watch and cheer their team. They sit on the sidelines and giggle with each other.

Now these are the pictures that are worth buying! One more just for a parting gift, a thank you for reading my blog and enjoying my girls half as much as I do.

This week...

2011-02-11T14:07:00.000-06:00

has been a total blur. Between the weather roller coaster and the many hours that have been put into school. Just this week alone I have discussed Greek Art way more than I ever thought that I would and still have to write a 500 word essay and take an assessment. This weekend will be the perfect finish to the whirlwind week. Tonight I will be dressing punk #1 for her Valentine's Day dance, watching my nieces until my brother in law gets off work, then picking up my punk from the dance. Tomorrow morning is soccer pictures, practice and the game. Tomorrow evening I am supposed to be attending a going away party for my dear friend Amber. Oh yeah just remembered that #1 has a sleep over to attend tomorrow night also. UGH!!!! does it ever stop? Don't answer that!!!! I am begging you I know the answer already just don't want to face it. To top it all off I have a Biology test on Tuesday and yet again I have no idea what she has been teaching the last two weeks. She is a really tough professor to follow. Wish me luck. Goodbye!

(and just great I deleted my awesome signature trying to add this PS.... dance pics will be posted later)
<3 Becky (I know it isn't nearly as pretty, just accept it and move on, I have.)

Wordless Wednesday...

2011-02-02T12:15:00.000-06:00

just because I am tired and we may lose power at any random time.

I love this girly!

By no means

2011-01-27T15:24:00.000-06:00

did I mean any disrespect. Let me explain. I am not good in math or science, hence the reason my major is considered a BA not a BS. 12 years ago when punk #1 was a new born I attempted my first round of college Biology. The problem then was that:

1. I was too young.
2. A new mom.
3. working a full time job.
and last, very huge reason so don't miss it...

4. I was in a Biology class for science majors.

I think we all know where this is going. I did pass but it is not transferable so I am retaking this class this semester. For non-majors this time, thank you. Now that I am older and want to learn and have educational goals I am already doing better. Ok back to the respect or lack of, Tuesday is our first test. I participate in class and really do understand what is going on in the lecture. I take notes and read the chapter passages so I feel as though I am prepared. Labs on the other hand no. I have a difficulty applying what was lectured to the lab. So today when we were doing a lab about water properties and hydrogen bonds (pictured), I got frustrated because no matter how many times I read the material it just wouldn't sink in. Something about 70* water being chiller than 70* air, yes I get that, but how is that different/ same for metals vs. the human body. So when my professor was attempting to explain this to me all she was doing was re-reading the material and underlining it for me. So I just gave up and wrote on the lab what she said as the explanation. At the end of class she asked me if I understood. I honestly answered her, "No, so I am going to go home and read the chapter and study it." She just waved me off. Then about five minutes later she asks to speak to me privately. She took my frustration with myself on not understanding hydrogen bonds personally and felt that I had a negative attitude towards her, and that is distracting to other students. Really? My frustration that I simply stated that I was going to go home and study for, also set up a study group with my lab partners for the test on Tuesday is negative?!? How about that girl that talks the whole class or the other on the is texting? Aren't they distracting other students and disrespecting you? I am no confused by hydrogen bonds and the definition of respect. I did not use a condescending tone, it wasn't her fault that I didn't understand it, she explained it over and over. So we talked about it and she apologized for misunderstanding me. If this is the way the second week of class is going to go this is going to be a LONG semester!

Decisions...

2011-01-27T00:11:00.000-06:00

I have been really working on this blog this week and for the most part of not had much to do with the facebook world. So I have recently had it pop into my head if I really want to continue with my wall. HMMM. There are pros and cons for both sides. I really do enjoy having my "friends" and family at my finger tips, since they don't all read my blog, it has been easier to keep in touch with them this way. However I also am a realist and I know that I don't really have 179 friends. With that last statement, I really only converse with a few people there on a daily basis. Of those few they all have my phone number, know where I live and I think that they even read this, so again I post the question why do I still use it? I think that as my own little experiment I will see how it goes the next few weeks and how I feel about it then. I am a woman after all I can change my mind anytime that I want.

just wondering...

2011-01-26T12:45:00.001-06:00

I have a lot of things on my mind lately, so feel free to answer if you know...

1. how do you get pencil off of the TV screen?
2. how do you get sharpie off a bedroom door?
3. why can't i have two copies of my drivers license, debit card, school id, etc? (for my backpack and purse)
4. why is blogger so uncooperative today?
5. is weird to ask all my friends to pitch in for a maid instead of buying me a birthday present?
6. Am I the only one that ~~liked~~ loved Black Swan?
7. is 7 a weird number to leave these questions? I mean it is not a round pretty number like 1, 3, 5 or 10.
Ignore that last one, I got another one...
8. Why does FB keep messing with my pictures on the top of my profile, is there a lock button? I like them the way they are!!!

Changes...

2011-01-25T07:38:00.000-06:00

Just in case anyone noticed all the changes yesterday, sorry about that. I am back to looking for backgrounds, learning how to use the headers and also after a long ordeal and tutorial both online and on the phone with my friend Kay I now have the really cool font!

Last night was a long night. Dimples and I didn't make it to bed until around 12:30am and somewhere around 4:30am punk #3 decided that it was time to pee the bed again. That is the second time this week and it is only Tuesday. Punk #1 is sitting on the couch drinking a cup of coffee when I finally make it down at 6:24am. It will also be a long day. As it is 7:31 right now and I have to jump into a hopefully warm shower to begin my full day at school. Thank God history is my first class!

Now I know, and you do too.

2011-01-24T11:55:00.000-06:00

I have been wondering why I can't seem to find the time to blog, but I can find the time to build an entire city on Facebook? Well I finally figured it out. Before I was on FB blogging was fun, this was my way of telling everyone what was going on in our lives. Dimples didn't mind the blogging, because I would simply put my entry out there and that was it. FB that is so different. Now with an update every ten minutes, mine or someone else, FB can take up the entire day. And since I was on there constantly updating or commenting, I let my blog go and just told myself I was too busy to do this anymore. Alright well I was lying to myself. I usually only reserve that for housework, but this one slipped in by surprise. So I am going to try this for a while, blogging again to tell you the funny little things that happen in our home or the not so funny right now, but will be next week; like the infamous egg incident of 2011!

Full load and I was called an overachiever!

2011-01-20T16:31:00.000-06:00

It seems that I try to get this thing going at the beginning of each semester and then it never gets rolling. Well I am here trying again. A new semester a new year. I have 13 hours this semester 3 face to face classes and 1 online class. I had my first American Lit class last night and it was wonderful. I love reading and learning so what better way to go about that than American Lit. My professor is also on the Honors Committee so we had a little chat about that. So for the very first time in my life I am going to attempt Honors. Not only with American Lit but also with US History. That means there will be 2 research papers written this semester as well as the regular work that is required. I guess in other words I am letting you know up front that I might not actually get this rolling again this semester. But do you really blame me?

Why I started this thing!

2011-01-19T13:30:00.000-06:00

All right already. I started this whole blogging thing when I felt like I couldn't take the "fun adventures" that my Lilly was sending me on. Well that sweet little Lilly is now 5 and learning to read. Now it is Caitlin's turn. She is 3 and a half and I am on my ledge again. Just this morning she snuck out of my bed, where she is every morning, to rummage the fridge. To my horror and surprise I found a dozen eggs cracked with a fingernail file in the office carpet! Thankfully it is semi-winter so it won't stink. I love my children all of them! But this child really has a way of keeping me on my toes, or I guess I should say on my knees. I pray daily that whatever it is that goes through her brain that it will stop! The pediatrician even suggested that we have her screened by a Physciatrist. All that did was send us down a road filled with different prescriptions and sleepless nights. Oh and a full 48 hours of obsessed painting. I honestly think that the hardest part of all this is that my family doesn't think there is anything wrong. She is just difficult. This discussion only leads me to feel like I am a terrible mother. Just being honest here. I know that I am not a bad mother, I do have 2 other children that show this, but I still feel this way because as far as we know there is nothing wrong she is just difficult so that means the problem is me right? So anyways back to the original statement I started this thing when life was difficult with Lilly's potty training hoping to find the humor in the things that she did. So I am going to try this again. I just hope that I am not too tired to see the humor this time around.

Snores, bored to tears, and loving class.

2010-09-02T15:45:00.000-05:00

This week was my first week back to school since May. I wasn't sure how I was going to handle it. Let me explain. The past two semesters that I have been back I have taken two classes. Well this time I am taking three. This one extra class doesn't seem like it should be that much extra on my plate. Oh but it is. You see this one class took me from a part time student to a full time student. I now go 4 days a week instead of two. I have to depend on my husband to be home from work early two nights a week so that I can make it to my 6 o'clock class on time, for some reason none of my professors this semester allow tardiness. I just can't fathom why not. (Yes I can, I am being sarcastic!) My main struggle this semester is going to be my Geology class. First of all it is the time that I should be sitting down with my family eating the delicious dinner that I spent the last hour preparing. Second he is a real snore! The man starts a sentence, stops for a long pause he may even leave the room, then begins again. Only he may not be speaking about what he started to explain. In his defense he did tell us on day one that he is not a teacher he is a Geologist. Yippee for me! The other two classes are Micro Computer Applications, this class bores me to tears, just ask my friend Sheila she hears about it constantly. Then after a 5 min lunch there is US History Since 1877. Now this is my favorite. The professor is awesome, he tells stories and really gets you into learning. It really does help that I love history. After all I did visit a civil war museum and battlefield on my honeymoon.

Welcome to 7th Grade.

2010-08-26T17:16:00.000-05:00

Today Punk #1 brought home a letter that asks the parents to write a note to the teacher. The teacher wants to get to know our child better and would like to know them from our perspective. What a great idea. So here it goes:

Ms. C,

I am the proud parent of Punk #1. She is my pride and joy. As she gets older it is amazing to see her and remember her as the precious baby that she used to be. Today she is a beautiful young lady that shares her emotions and feelings proudly. She tends to be on the loud side and is passionate about her views. She loves to read and analyze the story behind the book and relate it to her own life. As her parent it is difficult to keep up with her as she is so advanced that it seems that I am talking to a short adult, she is wise beyond her years. She does have a lot going on in her mind and heart that weighs heavily on her so please be patient as we try to work these things through. I know that you will enjoy having her and please pick her brain and keep her active, or just a warning you will have a "Chatty Cathy" on your hands. Good luck this year.

Sincerely,

This tear I shed for you...

2010-08-19T16:33:00.001-05:00

Punk #1 Summer 2010

Next week my oldest punk goes into the seventh grade. I sit here in complete awe of where the time has gone. She has grown into such a beautiful young lady; I am so proud to be her mother. I am at a loss of words to describe the emotion that is going through my heart every time that I see her, this summer I watched as my baby grew into this beautiful Christian woman right in front of me. Her maturity and intellect surprises me whenever we sit to have a conversation. The fact that I can be silly and ride the cart in Wal-Mart or sing at the top of my lungs and she only laughs is awesome. I love that I do not embarrass my daughter. I want her to be fun and silly as well as, a well mannered lady. So next week I will probably shed that tear for my girl, this is harder than her going into kindergarten. Who would have thought?

Happy "Faderths" Day!

2010-06-20T22:40:00.000-05:00

Princess and A Queen

2010-05-12T15:04:00.000-05:00

Sunday was Mother's Day and Caitlin's 3rd birthday. I am used to sharing holidays, we all seem to have our special day around some sort of holiday. Because it is important to children, ok everyone, to have people present at their birthday parties we decided to host the Chuck E Cheese party on Saturday instead. It was great, there was screaming children, green frosting on the Tinkerbell cake and a large rat! Best birthday ever! I am happy to say there was no hooker fairy present this year. Then we all passed out and it was Sunday.

Mothers day. I waited and waited no breakfast in bed, but Dimples did do the dishes. Score! We went to my in-laws for the day, we decided that there was no way we were trying to fight the crowd for lunch (or dinner) so my FNL bought mud bugs and we had a boil. I LOVE crawfish, the girls well... they love the little lobsters. Hey we go with whatever gets them to eat, did you know shrimp is chicken? Me neither, but it works.

After lunch Caitlin got her big girl bike and we went for a walk. It was short lived, she is currently scared of her bike, that she picked out. We are still working on that.

Hope that all of you mothers had a great day.

Cowboys and a Ranchers' wife.

2010-04-26T10:23:00.038-05:00

This past weekend we went to Stillwater OK to meet my online BFF, The Pioneer Woman. The preparations that consisted of a state inpection and an oil change each with their own drama, were so worth the fights of broken DVD players and lost keys. Enough for a different post.

After a 10 hour drive to Edmond, arriving at 1am to my oldest sisters house, we put the kiddos to bed and hung out. It has been altleast a year since our families got together. Longer since Punk #1 got to join us. The next morning we got up had eggs and bacon that my bnl cooked and headed out the door for Stillwater OK, home of Eskimo Joes!

After the best cheese fries in the world (picture wouldn't load) we headed out for our OSU apparell shopping, since you can't find it anywhere in H-Town.

3:00pm was the book signing with The Pioneer Woman at the local Hasting. We got there about 3:30 and the line was all the way at the back of the store. When I stepped into line and dropped my purse getting ready for the long wait, the girl in front of me turns and says, " I think you were just in my store." Sure enough we just purchased 3 shirts from them and for the next 3 hours they were my best friends, besides P-Dub!

Mr. Dimples was so nice to do a Sonic run for us while we waited. As we mosied our way through the line, I learned that my new friends are also quilters. YEAH! We talked about different patterns and found quilting magazines to look at. It was so much fun. When we were on the last leg of the line, right by the cafe rounding the corner we spotted this gentleman. Poor guy his wife must have been in line.

Yes you see that correctly, he is wearing sunglasses at his laptop. The best part... he is asleep! Even my flash didn't wake him. So now I get to meet Ree....

Hey my new friends are making her laugh! See they are good people! Ok now it is my turn,

Look we are friends!

The rest of the weekend was a bust! I mean seriously what else could compare, this was better than meeting Paula Deen, yep I met her too ( not at the same time), see:

But I did learn how to set the timer on my camera, balance it on a rock with a drop off of a few hundred feet and take a family pic.

The End, for now.

Playin' catch up

2010-04-22T23:08:00.000-05:00

Caitlin- Peek-A-Boo!

Wowie - you are too big for the wagon!

Huggie- Cheese!

At BlueBell Ice Cream Factory

Free Ice Cream after the tour.

Hi Y'all from Paula Deen!

Tag Your It...

2010-02-17T12:31:00.000-06:00

I read this link through a friends blog today, and I believe that there are many other parents in this world that need to read it too. So I am posting this link for you today so that you can pass it along to your friends too.

Striving to be content and holy,

Pretty Pretty Princess

2010-01-31T10:45:00.000-06:00

What happened to this girl?

Letters to Great Grandma

2010-01-28T17:11:00.001-06:00

Today punk #2 learned about writing a letter and mailing it. When we got home from school today she asked me if she could write her name and mail it to her Great Grandma Dodo. She loves her GG Dodo (so do I). After writing her name backwards and sideways several times #3 joined in the coloring project too. Then she let me address the envelope and stuff their pictures inside, with a short note explaining the letter. Here are some pics of her and #3 walking to the mailbox and mailing her letter.

"Muahh! Dodo, I love you!"

Party Weekend

2010-01-25T08:42:00.002-06:00

This past weekend punk #2 had her 4th birthday party. We choose to try out Chuck E. Cheese this year. Hoping that it would be a cheaper choice than having it at home. I know that sounds backwards, but if you think about it it makes sense. Having the party with Chuck E. we did not have to provide food for all the adults and there were about 15 of them in addition to the 15 kids. Well as it turns out we were right! Love it when that happens. So to those of our friends to come to the parties they will all be done this way in the future! There will be more pictures to come. I have some of our favorite highschool youth minister playing games while his baby girl watches from a stroller. And some of daddy riding the games with Lilly. She had so much fun. And I hope that everyone else did too.

Happy Birthday Babe! Love you, Mom and Dad.

Hello Assignment

2010-01-22T00:04:00.001-06:00

This week I started the second semester of my freshman year of college. I was told to write a paragraph describing me and my interests. After writing and reading it back I kinda like it. It is simple, just like me.

A title of a married stay at home mother, of three girls, really doesn’t leave much to the imagination. That is exactly what I am. When I was young I “accidentally” got pregnant with my first daughter, Natalie was born June 18, 1998, and she is now eleven years old. I made the decision that I was going to keep her and raise her with her father. When she was two we divorced, and went our separate ways only to cross paths when Natalie was involved, I was only 18 at the time. The next few years were the hardest of my life. I was trying to be the mother that Natalie needed and the daughter that my parents taught me to be. Being a single mother did not leave time for much or money even if there was time. Those years I didn’t have many or any real friends. Time passed as it always does and I found myself waiting table at a local bar, never expecting to find my husband and my best friend. Joel and I married when I was twenty-two, in 2004. The following year found out that we both lost a grandparent and we were expecting our first child together. Lillian was born January 18, 2006. Six months later we found out we were expecting again. Talk about a whirl wind marriage. There was never time for us. Caitlin was born May 9, 2007. This past year I decided that it was time to make some time for me and return to college to finish my extended education. Having three children, two of them toddlers, does not allow a lot of time for me. I am only taking two classes a semester on a full grant. Adding two days a week to my schedule has literally left zero extra time. Our days and nights are booked every day. My family and I host a small group on Saturday nights and attend the same church that I have been a member of for the past seventeen years. On Mondays I quilt, and wish that I had more time and money to support that ministry. I look forward to graduate, in about six years, and hope to follow three of my seven siblings and graduate with honors.

She is wrapped in pink ribbons and a highheeled big deal!

2010-01-14T12:47:00.000-06:00

It wasn't that long ago that I was complaining to my sister that I didn't have the greatest of friends. Actually at that time I didn't feel like I had any real friends. In my circle I was the first to have a child, then the first to marry and then to have more children. I was just in a different place in my life than my single friends. It is amazing the way that the Lord works. Now I have the greatest friends that are in the same stages as me or have already experienced them and are mentoring me!
Tuesday, my friends Kay and Ellen met for a fun day of fabric and quilt supply shopping. We walked all through JoAnn's the visited my local shop Time Treasured Quilts. When all finished and ready for lunch we headed to Which Wich for lunch... and I have now had that for 3 meals in the last 2 days! Love it!
Yesterday Kay came over for some mommy quilting time. However our little ones did not really feel like playing they wanted to help us or watch us. It amazed me, and made me laugh a little, how Kay can sew her strips together with her youngest on her lap! I just had to snap a picture.

I want to take the time to say Thanks Kay and Ellen for being just what I was looking for. There are more and I would like to tell you about them little by little. Come back for more about my friends.

Hello Visitors!

2010-01-04T00:11:00.000-06:00

Lately I have noticed a lot of visitors from places that I have never been, nor do I know anyone that lives there. So I would like to take the time to say,
" Hello, thank you for dropping by and reading my blog. I have been kinda lazy this past year and my resolution is to be a better blogger this year. Please come back and check in on me randomly and feel free to post a comment. Tell me a little about yourself and how you came to know about my blog."

Christmas 2009

2009-12-31T12:08:00.000-06:00

Things have been a little crazy lately. I am so ready for the girls to be back in school next week and get my house in order. Christmas this year was a lot of fun. The girls were so excited and opened all of their presents with no help. Of course punk #1 has been doing this for years and is an old pro, so I think she was kinda bored with it.

Everyone got what was on their lists except everyone was sold out of Taylor Lautner stuff!!! That was before Thanksgiving too. Here are a few pics of the fam enjoying our time together. I missed the video of the girls singing Happy Birthday to Jesus. It was so awesome, I think a new family tradition.

Twas the Night Before Christmas!

2009-12-03T23:03:00.002-06:00

Twas the countdown to Christmas

Twas the countdown to Christmas*
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*See the PC Police had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*

*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*
*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
*December 25th is just another 'Holiday'.*
*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*

*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd!*
*Retailers now promote Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*
*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
*At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*

*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*
*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!*

*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*
*Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*
*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for our season, stopped before it got started.

*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me..*
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
*Shout Merry Christmas and God Bless, not Happy Holiday!*

Its the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

2009-10-15T17:18:00.000-05:00

This past weekend Natalie carved a Jack-O-Lantern while she was away at girl scout camp...

Pretty spooky....

But this is why we don't do this, this early in October! It is 92 with 150% humidity!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-12T00:15:00.001-05:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Friday Playday

2009-10-03T09:55:00.001-05:00

Our church has an awesome playground that the girls just about die to play on every Sunday. We finally got the chance to go hang out. We drove through Wendy's picked up some nuggets for a picnic and had a fun day.

This obsticle course was a little difficult for our little ones. This shot was taken quickly before I ran back over to her and helped her between rings. She just kept insisting that she do it again. It was easy for her, for me... not so much.

Caitlin slept through the picnic in the car, but woke up in time to still have some fun. She is a little monkey, immediatly she climbed to the top of this rope ladder and got stuck. Right after this she went down the big slide by herself.

The girls took turns spinning in the ring. The were full of giggles. Kay and I just sat and watched, it was so nice to hear them play together. Soon we packed up and headed to a local quilt show, more pics to come about that.

Get on the ball...

2009-09-30T07:58:00.004-05:00

I would like to give a shout out to Mary Kay at High Heels and Golf Spikes for giving me this award. The rules state that I have to pass this on to one or more blogs. So I have chosen... (drum roll)...

Positive Thinking Teens

Flying Monkey Mother

I now feel the need to get back into the swing of this... so here we go!

I have now been back in school for 5 weeks and feel like I have written 4 paper (2 were rewrites) and done about, hmmm, a million algebra problems. I still don't understand math and I am looking forward to next summer when I am done with it all! I will NEVER take another math class! So that is what is going on with me.

Now my kiddos... Lilly has hit the terrific 3's and is a blessing. She reminds me about every 10 minutes that she is a good girl and Caitlin is not. She is in school two days a week and loves it. Right now she is learning about the numbers 1 and 2 and the letters A and B.

Caitlin has entered the terrible 2's and has no care in the world. Her favorite phrase is, "leave me alone." When Dimples was putting her in the car Sunday after church she was screaming, "Leave me alone, Dad!" at the top of her lungs for everyone to hear. If you didn't know you would have thought she was being abused. She would love to be in school with her Huggie (Lilly) and pitches a royal fit every time we leave Huggie in her class and Caitlin has to go home. On a good note, she is learning to take a bribe very nicely. Natalie aka Wowie has started the 6th grade and is just as sassy as ever. She is a smart and beautiful girl that is learning to deal with real world problems, like time management. Something that will not be learned from example from her overwhelmed mother!

We are going to the park for the first time in 5 months, because the weather is PERFECT today! So there will pictures to come.... enjoy this beautiful day that God has blessed you with.

Apology Letter

2009-08-28T12:00:00.003-05:00

To the old man at the bank...

I am sorry that my rowdy children were running around the bank lobby while I was trying to close one account and open another. I am sorry that my two year old screams... however it does not give you (someone who has been an adult for a LONG time) to glare at me and hold your hands over your ears. Seriously? She is 2 and is still learning what is acceptable and what is not. She was disciplined when we left, although that is none of your business. You on the other hand should know that covering your ears and glaring at an obviously overwhelmed mother is not socially acceptable! If you have a complaint about children running and screaming in the lobby feel free to write to that branch manager insisting that they put in a drive up teller, that way you can sit in your buick and listen to elevator music in peace.

Hope you have a quieter day (because I won't)

Becky

First day of School.

2009-08-25T10:49:00.003-05:00

Um Hello is anyone there? I know I have been gone forever, but it has been summer and we have been non stop.... nevermind, I have just been lazy. The girls are growing like weeds. Yesterday was the first day of 6th grade for Natalie, she loved it. Her teacher speaks in sign language for most of the time so they will have the challenge of learning that. I love it! She has also decided to play the cello. Up until she came home yesterday she was going to play the violin, whoops change of plans and $1250.00 later (yes you can gasp, I did) she has the last 1/2 size cello from Fishburn.

Tonight is my first night back at school in 11 years. I am excited and scared at the same time. This semester I will go three nights a week. T/TH is Math and W is English. I hope I don't get lost! At the rate that finances and time allow Natalie and I should finish before me! 3 years part time and about 6 years full time for me to finish and 7 years for Natalie to graduate highschool. Granted when I am done it will be a doctorate. Who'd ever thought that I would want to be a doctor?!? This is going to be a long hard journey and I will need all the prayers I can get. Wish me luck!

Friday Play Date...

2009-05-22T15:51:00.000-05:00

Lilly drinking her "beer".

Lilly off roading, her Daddy is so proud.

This poor girl, Caitlin kept taking her ball and throwing it. But she was cool, she kept giving us her tickets too.

We stunk at this game! And my camera went dead!

Guess who is turning 2...

2009-05-07T11:41:00.002-05:00

This Saturday my baby will be two. Please NO questions about the next one. There isn't one!

Family date in a recession

2009-05-04T14:56:00.002-05:00

When you have a family of 5 it is rare that you get to do anything "fun" without spending a lot of money. This past Saturday after Dimples worked his 3rd Saturday off in a row, not bitter about it at all, we drove around and looked at model homes then drove into Cypress and looked at big homes on acreage. It is fun to dream! On the way home we stopped and took a peek at Rock Creek. Check it out, they look like mob manions. This is when we decided that these people are too rich. You know they have too much money when their front yard is fairway grass. Yes people the same as a golf course! This just became depressing and we got hungry off to the chinese buffett.

Best Party Activity...

2009-04-20T17:32:00.000-05:00

Items needed:
1 punk
1 laser pointer

Groucho Marx/ Steve Martin

2009-04-20T17:30:00.000-05:00

Lilly handed these to me this morning in tears. She had yanked the nose off of the glasses and could no longer play with them. In my grogginess (no coffee yet) I simply said we have to wait for Daddy to fix them. Usually she just puts them down where she is standing and expects me to remember. This afternoon when we got home from my stiching group they were sitting on top of the computer waiting to be fixed. So I have now deemed them the best party favor ever (from December). Thanks Steph.

That's cheese not a hotdog!

2009-04-17T17:57:00.000-05:00

This last weekend Dimples and his BFF started to work on our deck. After all the egg hunts and turkey consumption our middle child decided to help.

"That's cheese not a hotdog!" spoken by Lilly about the sawdust. Completely Random...

Easter part 4: Outside Hunt

2009-04-14T11:35:00.000-05:00

Because it turned out to be such a beautiful day we had to re-hide the eggs outside. The girls loved it. Natalie being too old to hunt stayed inside and played ping pong and pool with Dimples. Hope all of you had a very Happy Easter!

Easter part 3: Hunt #1

2009-04-14T11:27:00.000-05:00

Pepaw hid eggs inside since the rain put a damper on an outside hunt. Little did we know....

Easter part 2: baskets

2009-04-14T11:26:00.000-05:00

Why is it that lately Caitlin is crying in all of our family pics?

Easter Part 1 of many: Coloring Eggs

2009-04-14T11:22:00.000-05:00

This year we had five kids coloring eggs! A one, two, three, five, and ten year old. The traditional way of dipping in dark rich colors just didn't sound like a good idea. During the weekly trip to the local Wal-Mart I found this really cool spinning egg dyer. You drop the color in, put the egg in, lock the top and push the button. It was kinda like that spin art they do with glitter and paint at carnivals. The kids loved it and the eggs came out pretty cool.

Part 2 coming soon.

The Next American Idol

2009-03-30T22:28:00.004-05:00

Newest Addition...

2009-03-27T17:01:00.004-05:00

We have a new addition to our playgroup on Wednesdays.

Harper Sloan Forsythe born March 26, 2009

I think she fits right in with our sassy girls.

March 4th really?

2009-03-25T07:15:00.002-05:00

That was the date of my last post. Man it has been a busy month.

Punk #1 was home for Spring Break this year and I tried to make the most of it. Friday I picked her up from school, with a short detour to the Dr. for hand x-rays; it was nothing really, we went to Nannaw and Pappaw's house. I got to drop them off there all three of them for 2 whole days! It was so quiet around the house. It was nice to get up and go when we wanted or just sleep in. But all in all I was happy to pick up the girls on Sunday. They are my sweet babies and a little break was all I needed. (Call you again next month, Mom!)

Ok back to Spring Break... Monday the 16th Dimples turned 32! So we did what every typical American family does, we ate out. Tuesday was Chuck E. Cheese day, note the picture of Caitlin pitching a fit. She doesn't like to wait for her turn.

Wednesday we got to have lunch with my Aunts, Unlce Chris, and cousins that came into town, just because. I love it when that happens. We also took punk #1 and a friend to the Rodeo. If you aren't from here and don't know about our rodeo it is kinda a big deal. We rode the park and ride there to save the $20 parking and wasted time getting lost! Walked the fair grounds and let the kids ride a few rides. We ate turkey legs, sausage on a stick, cheese fries, corn dog, hot dog and a funnel cake. We got into the stadium just in time for the chuck wagon races, calf scramble and this new event where little kids hang on for dear life to the sheep and ride it as long as they can. It was hilarious. Then the lights went down and Gary Alen came on stage. I have to admit when we were given the tickets, I didn't know who he was, but excited to go. But that was the most boring performance I have ever been to. We go every year to atleast one, and that was the one that I don't think we will go back to see again. Great songs for the radio, just not a live show.

Thursday we met one of our playgroup friends and went berry picking. After the hour drive to get there, there is a hand written note on the door that they are picked out. Just in case I asked if it was true. When I explained we had a car full of toddlers and that the little ones that are barely ripe are just fine for a two year old to pick we got to head out and see what they had. We came home with 2 lbs. That is enough for me. Also found out that Caitlin does not like fresh strawberries. She will have strawberry yogurt for breakfast every morning, but spits the fresh ones out everytime.

Friday was picture taking day. Professional. The last pic of the girls together professionally Caitlin was 2 weeks old. Maybe sometime next month or for Mother's Day I can get one of all 5 of us.

That is it. That was our week, for the most part it will just repeat this week, just replace some of the activities with new ones.

Wud Up G?

2009-03-04T08:56:00.002-06:00

My friend just became a grandma this morning at 7am! Here's the deal she is way too young, but as she says, "that is what happens when you fall in love with an old man." They don't have grandparents names. They don't want the normal g related names, any suggestions?

NIS Idol

2009-03-02T16:27:00.001-06:00

Sorry it took so long, actually I had it done last week but I mispelled the school name so I had to start over. She's awesome isn't she?

All about me!

2009-03-02T13:12:00.001-06:00

Describe me please.

2009-02-26T13:46:00.003-06:00

Playing around today on the web, I found this site that randomly mixes text that you put in or from a page that you enter and makes this neat little word art. I am looking for words that may desribe me. Please leave them in your comment, since I don't get a lot of comments please leave several. Thanks

Becky

There really are no words.

2009-02-25T18:11:00.000-06:00

Except maybe, "Where are your panties?"

What is Joy?

2009-02-20T13:53:00.004-06:00

Earlier this month or maybe it was last month I posted about making a joyful noise and how it made me feel. Just now I was on the floor changing Caitlin's stinky diaper and talking with the girls about seeing Memaw and Pepaw (Dimples parents). They love seeing them. Lilly simply states, "Pepaw is joy!"

What brings you joy?

How to...

2009-02-19T14:38:00.006-06:00

Paint a stencil clock:

I first saw this idea in Martha's magazine and loved it. Except the stencil from her site was way too big for my printer and the clock hands alone were over $100. Not quite my budget for a project I wasn't sure would look as good as she did it. So I head to Hobby Lobby. Bought some $5 clock parts, $3 hands to replace the little gold ones that come with it, and $4 stencils. $12 compared to $100+ I am happy and so is Dimples. Actually he didn't care what I was doing. I start and realize I don't want the whole wall as a clock so I just do the 12, 3, 6 and 9.

That was fine and simple and it stayed that way for several weeks. Except I had this JoAnns coupon burning a hole in my pocket and my mom came in to go shopping. Long story short I got some embellishing stencils 40% off and started again.

Little vines, next I added the stems for the flowers.

Now for the finishing touches, the flower tips.

Voila!

Now you too can have a wall painted stencil clock!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries.

2009-02-17T00:19:00.001-06:00

When we were in Denver, Co this year one of my brother's neighbors mentioned that for Valentine's Day he had fondue chocolate covered strawberries with his girls. What a great idea! Since we don't usually have a sitter for this night I decided that this would be our dessert. Dimples grilled us some yummy rib eyes and we attempted to bake potatoes (we actually had them for lunch on Sunday) all by candlelight. The girls had so much fun dipping the strawberries.

Caitlin just sucked the chocolate off and left the berry for whomever wanted it. I heard the trash can call dibs.

Lilly and her pj's were covered in chocolate before the night was over.

This moment... well one day she will be too cool to dip strawberries with her parents.

***Important Note: when participating in this activity remember to blow out dinner candles first, someones arm hairs can suffer a unnecessary death and it will avoid that gross burnt hair smell!***

Natalie

2009-02-17T00:09:00.000-06:00

Natalie performed in her first talent show this past Friday. She sang Reflection from the movie Mulan. She was so awesome had me in tears. I know, I know that is what a mom is supposed to do, but she just made me so proud. That was just the beginning of a special weekend for her.

Here she is with her girl scout troop having a Valentine's Day Tea Party. Tea for Two in Cypress does a wonderful job making the girls special. In the corner of our room they even had little baby dolls and hats so the girls could play when finished with their lunch.

This is her with Patty our co-leader, she earned about 13 patches this year!

Janna, Natalie, Francesca and Gurneet all earned the Bronze Award this year, that is the highest honor that a Jr. Cadet can earn. They had to put in several hours of community service and lots of homework.

Natalie, you are a smart and beautiful young lady and you make us so proud. Thank you for just being you. I love you, Mom.

Our beach.

2009-02-16T23:54:00.000-06:00

This is the before:

This is the after:

Why is she vacuuming the sand? Maybe I should hand her the broom for my kitchen since most of the sand has found its way there.

Things you find when you clean your kitchen.

2009-02-16T23:51:00.000-06:00

Both of these very important items went missing for a few days this month. Whew, when I got off my bum and cleaned the counters off in the kitchen they were a nice surprise.

Happy Friday the 13th!

2009-02-13T07:57:00.000-06:00

And the rebuttal....

My life is a bore

2009-02-08T22:23:00.001-06:00

I do apologize that I haven't been blogging like I should. Frankly there just isn't anything that is worth writing about. The girls are still cute and a handful but no one has gotten stuck in the dog door or colored the wall and themselves with mascara. Dimples works just as hard and we are thankful that he still has a job with this ugly economic recession that we are in. Punk #1, we she is just a smart little punk. Straight A's and E's on the report card.

I just don't see the point in blogging about the fact that our grocery bill doubled since Christmas, or that gas is on the rise again, but the price per barrel is still low. Or my favorite why people cut you off when they have to be aware that you are driving a Tahoe filled with kids. Come on people do you think I drive that beast because I like the way it rides. Those things are just things that you can't change. So in a way I can say that I have been blessed that I don't have to deal with Ike anymore, like Mandy does. But they get to go home next week, in time for baby girl to be born. So for now I will take my boring life, continue to quilt on Mondays, have our play dates on Wednesdays and clean my house on Friday. That is good enough for me. Tuesday and Thursday well, we will see how they fall. Sometimes I like surprises.

Books

2009-02-08T22:01:00.000-06:00

This year I have decided to keep a record (to your right) of the books that I read through out the year. Notice that they are all fluff! With three kids, a husband and a mound of debt (slowly shrinking) I don't really want to read books that will make my head hurt with debating what was really meant by that phrase. Maeve Binchy so far is my author or authoress, is that a word, of the year. I started reading her last year with Tara Road. What a great book!!! What I like about her is that she has series, but you don't have to read them in a particular order. Most of them tie together some how. She is an Irish writer and all her stories start in Dublin or the small towns around there. After all these fiction stories I will be planning a trip there. Not anytime in the near future, maybe a second honeymoon for our 25th. Only 20 more years to go! If you have read any thing lately that you feel you need to share, please let me know. Now I am off to begin The Shack. I know that one is a thinker, but I have been dying to read it.

All my peeps!

2009-01-30T16:07:00.000-06:00

Ok I know you are out there. And Gayle what happened to you? I am starting to feel a little lonely and self conscious. (I had to spell check that, and I think I got it right). Click here to follow my blog, you can even follow anonymously if you want to hide your identity. I know you people read this, you stop me at church to tell me something that was on it or at family functions. Go ahead cross that line and become a follower, in this case it is ok. Thanks.

The goings on.

2009-01-29T17:14:00.000-06:00

This child, the one that is jumping on the couch in her church dress, yeah that one. This is Sunday before we head off for church, other than a runny nose she has been the sweet little one that she always is. Tuesday morning we drop punk #3 off at MDO and head off to see the Dr. Lilly is so excited, she told everyone that we past that day that she was going to the Dr. In the waiting room she kept asking where he was. We sat there for an hour waiting. Our ped. is awesome, we also sat in with him for an hour, he really pays attention and asks me questions. You know my mind is fried with three kids so he know what I want to ask, but can't remember. In this hour that we are visiting and he is making Lilly's knee bounce he finds that she has an ear infection. WHAT?!? There is no fever, no screaming from pain, no pulling at the ears. Nothing except very thick green snot. I guess that is enough, it really is gross.

In other Dr. news, I went to see our eye Dr and you know we are still waiting for the people to send my glasses back to them so I can have them. That was 3 weeks ago. It is a good thing I am not blind and I have an extra pair. I also got the postcard in the mail that I am do for my dental exam and cleaning. YEAH! I can't get in until the third week of April. Maybe I should go ahead and call for the woman visit too. He always takes forever to get into. So that is it for now. Goodbye.

Birthdays

2009-01-23T09:50:00.000-06:00

These are out of order because blogger is acting stupid again!

This is the end, (but as stated before blogger is acting up again and it won't let me move the picture.) She is all sugared up! What a way to end the day.

Dora ice cream cake and Shreck cup cakes, we hodge podge. It beats the hooker fairy!

She blew out everyone of them!!!

Disney Princess dolls what a girly gift. ;)

Lilly with her monster truck. Lazaro says those are for boys!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you.

Happy Birthday dear Lilly, Happy Birthday to you!

They just couldn't wait for the cup cakes!

This precious princess followed my sister around the whole time!

Make a joyful noise.

2009-01-19T01:21:00.000-06:00

For some reason my sense of hearing today was heightened. This morning a tad earlier than what I would have like I woke to the sounds of my baby girls fighting. This is nothing out of their normal routine, but I heard it too clearly. A little later the bathroom was filled with giggles and deep belly laughs from the shower while they were getting ready for church. Then during our morning worship at church the man behind us, well lets just say he couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, belted out the "joyful noise" that warmed my heart. More power to you sir. Today is Lilly's third birthday which brought on A LOT of noise in our home. 8 children playing, laughing and singing a very off tune Happy Birthday to Lilly. The last conversation of the day was my sister-n-law in Mississippi called to say that her family would be coming to visit us in Houston hopefully sometime in March or April. Since I have never met her or my brother-n-law, Dimples has not met her either and hasn't seen his brother in years, we are very excited to welcome them into our home. All in all it was a day filled with joyful noise. And it simply made me happy.

Merry Christmas Pics

2009-01-10T10:43:00.000-06:00

Colorado and Oklahoma pics

2009-01-10T10:27:00.000-06:00

*This seemed to be the only way that blogger would let me upload.

Celebrations.

2009-01-10T09:34:00.000-06:00

Lilly is finally beginning to understand the birthday thing. She gets the present thing and the party thing. This year though she understands that with each birthday you get to turn another year older. This year my middle child will be three. Three! I can't believe that three years ago she was hanging on to my ribs with her long little monkey toes. I guess three is the magic number. I have three children, all three girls. Three years ago Dimples took me to the same restaurant that we will be dining at tonight. This place I will actually get a three course meal. I could have more but come on lets be realistic. That is not in the financial budget or the "healthy" budget.

OK for some fun... 5 years ago today... Right about now I was sitting in the salon chair having someone other than the lady I booked doing my hair. (Debra decided to go to a Paul Mitchel Convention in Florida on my wedding day!) I have all my bridesmaids with me having theirs done too. It was so much fun. Then to my horror who ever this replacement chic was had set my veil down in hair color! No not bleach, RED. Thankfully it didn't show in the pictures and the lady that made it for me didn't come to the wedding. My old (used to be, um friend) still hadn't called or shown up. That is a whole different story. She is supposed to meet us at the church with lunch and wine. We get to the church and it is locked. Ms. Frannie didn't know we were coming that early. God love her it was noon and the wedding was at 4. We still had to get dressed, eat, pee then get dressed again. When we get into the church I start getting all my stuff out. What do I notice? The diamond is missing from my ring. Oh the water works!!! I am an emotional person anyway, but you should have seen me. My wonderful sister talks to me and then takes the ring to Dimples and asks what we should do. Why he didn't run when he had the chance who knows. I mean seriously your soon to be wife, for the rest of your life, is in hysterics over a ring. We couldn't do anything so we just left it and don't have any pictures of our hands. 4 o'clock came and went, we said our vows to each other and Dimples said some very special vows written by a good friend of mine to Natalie and placed a ring on her hand also. We ate cake and through the garter and bouquet. Thankfully we had no more hiccups. That day. Funny the same things that went wrong that day seemed to show back up in later instances. The ring... has now been replaced by another jeweler, the friend is no longer around, the veil OK that never showed back up but when else do you need a veil?

1 & 5 year anniversaries

2009-01-07T19:30:00.000-06:00

Ok now that I have some time to myself. I snuck away to Natalie's room so I can work on this thing. It is still giving me the ERROR 400 message so I give up. Eventually I will have the pics on a picasa web then you can follow that link. I just donned on me the other day that it has been a full year since I started this thing. My alot has happened. I hope this year is just as eventful yet more peaceful. This Saturday Dimples and I will celebrate our 5th anniversary. I mentioned that we should ask his parents to watch the kids so we can go to dinner somewhere like Salt Grass and maybe catch a movie. Too late he made plans! He is taking me to one of my favorite dress up restaurants. You know the kind that actually has a dress code. The Rainbow Lodge off of Memorial. We went there when I was prego with Lilly, maybe this time the duck won't make me want to.... you know. Next week Lilly turns three. Can you believe it? I remember posting about her turning two; this is so much better. She somewhat listens and is such a big helper around the house. I can actually let her swiffer the floor. She loves it too. Now it is Caitlin's turn. She is 20 months this month and she has already started. She is a fast learner of how to push my buttons. But she also gives the best hugs. Gotta go that was not a good scream!

Hey there!

2009-01-05T19:10:00.000-06:00

My oh my do I have a lot to say. Our vacation was a blast. Thanks Velvet for letting us stay with you, and the magic eraser is in the mail! I have tons of pics. But here are a few of my favorite. I am sneaking away to use my daughters computer, my lap top broke somehow on the trip home. This year we did the whole New Year's thing different. First of all I have always been at home for the 12am ball drop. Not this year!!! 2nd every year we have a big lunch with black eyed peas, cabbage and ham; nope this year it was fried chicken from KFC. Last, I actually got to take a nap! Hope yours was as great as mine. If you don't hear from me for a while it is the computer thing and I have a 3 year old's party to plan.

*** for some reason blogger won't let me add the pics. ERROR!!! I will try again in a few days.***

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T20:32:00.001-06:00

Punk #1's Christmas Party at school.

Ready for the Christmas Eve Service.

Not quite so ready for the service

Playing... yes, I made their dresses.

Our official Christmas Family Photo

Bloopers...

The End. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

*We will be on vacation, so I will tell you all about CO when we get home.*

One I forgot to post in December

2008-12-15T16:42:00.000-06:00

So the camera lasted a whole 2 days! On the search for another. Here are the last few from my Nikon...

My 1st Christmas present came early.

2008-12-12T21:31:00.000-06:00

This has been up since Thanksgiving weekend, I have been dying to take pictures of it. I do every year for some reason.

Natalie playing around, that's me.

If she would keep her tongue in her mouth she really is a pretty girl.

Awful pic, but it was time for bed.

This is what she wore to the Friday Night Mexican Dinner!

Thank you Karen and Tim!

Can you guess what it is?

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

2008-12-11T15:34:00.000-06:00

My very own Rudolph!

This bad mother hadn't bought gloves for the previous 74 degree weather we had.

"Guess what Mom, it's snowing in Tomball! It never snows in Tomball."

This is my favorite picture.

A real snow flake. You have no idea how exciting this is.

I think I can catch one!

Our house.

Sisterly love even in freezing weather.

"Mom, can we please go in now? I don't have a proper coat or gloves, I am freezing my hiney off!" (ha, that came up on spell check.)

Did you know when snow melts it is WATER, her favorite toy.

"Mom, did you hear me? I want to go inside."

***There are no pics of punk #1 she was with her Dad, even though these would have made awesome Christmas card pictures." and thanks to Monica again for your camera. I so owe you.

Christmas Vacation Troubles. UPDATE

2008-12-09T14:51:00.000-06:00

*** UPDATE *** Our vacation was approved! WE ARE GOING TO DENVER! Thank you Mr. Man for doing the right thing. I was told to apologize but I am not, I was not wrong in my frustration, plus he doesn't read this so I don't have to.

We have been planning a vacation to Denver Co for over a month now. Our plans consist of us leaving shortly after Christmas and returning shortly after New Years. Of course all of this revolves around Dimples job. His boss Mr. Man has now know about this vacation for over a month and has still not given us an answer. Dimples thinks I am upset with him when I am certainly not. Mr. Man on the other hand I am very angry with. He doesn't know that we aren't booking a hotel because we are staying with family, he also doesn't know that we are driving not flying our family of 5. Because all of that takes at least 2 weeks advance to book. The hotels booked a long time ago and time shares booked last year. So common courtesy for Mr. Man would be, work harder when someone hoards their EARNED vacation time for a Christmas with family and if you cannot get your poop in a group and the request gets denied you should offer to buy back that time (which they are not offering this year) instead of the hard working Dimples losing all of it. To top off my frustration, tomorrow when we finally get our answer if Mr. Man says no it will be too late for him to take most of his stashed time off. We only have 23 days left of the year and only 12 of those are working days! So please say a prayer tonight that we will get our vacation time and get to spend Christmas with some of our very large family, my girls will get to see snow, Dimples will get to ski for the first time in 5 years, oh the list could go on and on.

2008-12-03T12:42:00.000-06:00

This sweet beautiful girl can make me sad sometimes with just the change of a word. She is no longer calling me Mommy or even Momma. Nope now it is just Mom. She just sounds so grown up. "Mom, Mom fix it." "Mom cup pweez." "Mom I gotta poop." Ok that one still makes me laugh and she doesn't sound that grown up. They just grow up too fast. (that stain in the middle of her shirt is the infamous blue nail polish!)

Meet the Fam, Thanksgiving Edition (from Pappaw's camera)

2008-12-01T17:08:00.000-06:00

Punk #3 and Dimples eating Turkey and stuff.

Sarah, Uncle Lynn, Daniel and Dodo

Frank and my sister Paula

Punk #3 with a mouth full of Turkey

Ethan, Lucas, Jeff, Amanda, Pappaw (Dad), punk #1, and Liz... Surprise!

Bailey a great punk niece.

Stephen my nieces hubby and Jarrett my nephew.

I can't believe I almost forgot to post the most beautiful picture that I have taken in a long time...

My Mom!

I don't know whose plate she is fixing, because I know she doesn't eat like that, it must have been for my dad. I also don't know what happened to my font. I just go with the flow.

Background war! - Link is fixed!

2008-11-30T21:05:00.000-06:00

Natalie aka punk #1 at First Born stole my original Christmas background! She has asked me to tell you that she is hosting a contest go there to check out the details.

Screen cleaner

2008-11-29T18:35:00.000-06:00

You know your house is ran by kids, and you are ok with it, when you can read two entire blogs before you notice that your screen is extra dirty. You then reach for the nearest tissue to wipe it clean and your #1 punk asks, "what is that?" You answer her, "a booger!"

When does school start again?

Wordless: The dogs ate these boots!

2008-11-26T16:58:00.000-06:00

click the picture to participate in Wordless Wednesday.

I am thankful for my family...

2008-11-24T15:43:00.000-06:00

...but not for our photogenic abilities.

Stiching Class

2008-11-23T21:06:00.000-06:00

*special thanks to Barbara E. for her photog skills*

Many of you know that I have been participating in our church's quilting ministry. I have now made 1 quilt, 4 tote bags, and 1 Christmas stocking. Natalie is learning with me at a much slower pace due to her school schedule. With in these past few months I have bought 2 machines and then returned the same machines for defects. My lovely and wonderful grandma, Dodo, has now given me her machine and I LOVE it. It is a Kenmore and has all these fun attachments. I get so excited thinking about all the fun projects that I will get to share. Anyway Natalie aka punk #1 took the Crazy Stocking class with me last week and this is a picture of me helping her work on her Great Grandma's machine. It is enough to make my heart swell with pride. Notice her face, she is concentrating hard to make it just right. These 2 stockings that we made will be Christmas presents for her teachers, so they had to be just right. Nothing less of perfection.

Out of the mouths of babes...

2008-11-23T19:34:00.001-06:00

Today in Sunday School we were working on an activity it came about that Dimples is color blind. One of the boys says this,

"My dad is blind in his left eye because he got hit in the head with a frying pan while making fried chicken." -Noah P.

How I spend my evenings...

2008-11-22T10:26:00.000-06:00

* special thanks to Monica for her camera that night*

How does that saying go, same song different verse? I don't know but you get the idea. Every night I clean up after my children. Most of the time it takes maybe 30 minutes, that includes the dishes. There really isn't much to clean downstairs; the upstairs that is a different story!

Wednesday afternoon the girls were outside playing with our neighbors boys. Some how Lazaro never made it into the pictures. This is Lorenzo. Isn't he just adorable? Any Monica and I were just sitting there watching them play and keeping them from being ran over. They came up with this great idea of going inside. So I, being the smart one that I am, put the baby gate up on the stairs and turned on a Dora video. I left the front door open so that they could come and go as they please, this way Monica and I get to visit outside without our children interrupting us. Everyone is happy. Then the husbands come home! Neither of us have cooked dinner and suggesting pizza. When Dimples goes inside to begin cooking, he quickly comes out to tell me this has happened. Poor Monica thought that Dimples was never going to let me out of the house again. I married such a wonderful man.

By the way this is finger nail polish, blue, in Berber carpet.

The sad thing is that it was mine that did this, she was trying to paint her toes. She did a beautiful job don't you think?

Wordless Wednesday: 1 year ago, sometime this month.

2008-11-19T16:35:00.000-06:00

(I don't do the link thing, because I am too tired to figure it out, click here if you want to try.)

Age?

2008-11-17T22:29:00.000-06:00

At what age does a child finally become responsible for their actions? When do they get to go without because they forgot? When does the mother stop getting blamed for those actions that are out of her hands? The school doesn't help this problem either. This stupid lunch account is just a credit card to these kids. I can just hear the minds, " Oh its ok mom or dad will just put more $ in." Except when there are 2 different sets of parents that share the account then it becomes my money your money. Today my fifth grader forgot her lunch so I graciously muttered under my breath and drove her lunch to the school. I could've just let her go without, she forgot. We have been doing this lunch at school thing for what 6 years now. How hard is it to grab a lunchable from the fridge? But I took it to her so that she wouldn't use the account on my day, since there is only her dad's $ in it. Of course after the phone call about a spoiled lunchable and me 45 minutes away I wish I just let her go without. Yep, I already got the email asking why she used it and demanding payback by tomorrow. Give me a friggin' break she is your kid too! It is $2. It will be in the account tomorrow. Sometimes things like this happen. UGH! So again at what age does this child start to take responsibilities for her actions?

Mondays...

2008-11-17T16:49:00.000-06:00

I think we should just put an end to Mondays. There should be nothing that has to be done on Mondays. No sewing class at 9am, no kids forgettig lunches, no trash pick up. NOTHING! Ok the sewing class can stay, but I need it to be ok if I am late, because I have to gather and put out the trash, take lunch to my 5th grader then drive the 30 minutes in 10 so that I can maybe be on time. Atleast it is almost over. I like Tuesdays they can stay. So have a Happy Tuesday! Starting next week I am boycotting Mondays!

MDO is it worth it?

2008-11-11T17:32:00.000-06:00

10 hours a week of pure quiet bliss. I get to do whatever I want. I get to eat whatever I want without sharing and I get to drink whatever I want! But the rest of the day 2:30-8:30 is classified as toddler hell. These two haven't stopped whining and crying since I picked them up. This is a normal occurrence also, so my question to you is the 10 hours worth the 12 hour fight?

Beef, it's whats for dinner!

2008-11-10T17:22:00.000-06:00

This is one of the many good things that happen when Dimples cooks dinner. YUMMY steak and potato spinach salad with blue cheese dressing. With Christmas coming we may be hiring him out let me know if you would be interested. Seriously though he does like to smoke turkeys.

Kelly

2008-11-07T16:52:00.001-06:00

Kelly Summers is a friend of mine. I met her when I was working in the Keller Williams office here in Houston. We quickly became work buddies. Our Texas friendship was cut short when she married Matt and immediately moved to California. We still keep in touch with pictures and stories through our blogs. Kelly posted a blog today that really touched my heart and I want to share it with you, click here. Please keep Kelly, Matt and Sadie in your prayers as they take this journey together. It will be difficult on them as husband and wife, parents and Christians. Also pray for Sadie as she grows older she will not understand the amazing things that they will be doing for our God.

My apologies Ashley.

2008-11-07T10:06:00.000-06:00

My apologies to all those single women in the Houston and Dallas metroplex. I did not know, that is my story and I am sticking to it. My brother in law, Nathan, brought home his girlfriend for the family to meet (and I liked her.) According to both of them when I posted the original search they were on a "break" and neither of them knew that I did it. Nathan you really need to check your email and read my blog you learn things, important things from me! Anyway I made my apologies we had some laughs. She played the Wii with my punks, played outside with the baby punks and even talked politics with my mom-n-law and me, I think I offended her. But that is what makes the world go round, differences in opinions not me offending people. Final say, I like her and Nathan has my blessing to continue to date her.

Babies.

2008-11-06T15:07:00.000-06:00

Babies! Babies! Babies! They are everywhere. I have one neighbor prego and one delivered this morning. Then my friend Mandy is due in March. Another neighbor of mine for a while thought she was. I am surrounded by baby madness. HELP ME! All I have to do is look at them too long and the next thing you know it will be me. God help us all if we have another one right now. (don't get too worked up, we're not!!!)

My Day as a free woman!

2008-11-04T14:57:00.000-06:00

Today was Caitlin's first day of school. (And since I don't have a camera right now this is from about 2 weeks ago.) She walked into the classroom grabbed a toy and walked right out. Ms. Shelley scooped her up took her back to class and she spent the rest of the day laughing hysterically and trying to escape. Sounds like she had a normal day. I never did get the answer though about her nap.

After I dropped off the punks I went about my way for 5 hours of bliss. I did my part in the 2008 election, God please help us! During that process I found out that it is a class C misdemeanor to have the incorrect address on your drivers license. Hmmm, I know what I am doing Thursday with my 5 hours of bliss. Then I met my BFF Lauren for lunch at Hasta LaPasta after a quick run to the library. (This is us at the 2008 Rodeo, I think it was Fergie- corrected it was Rascal Flatts.)

After lunch I stopped next door for a pedicure (that is not it in the picture), it has only been since Mother's Day that I had my last one, that poor lady! Then off to pick up the punks, it was 2pm already. My how 5 hours flies when you are alone!

RIP Kodak Z10

2008-11-02T14:23:00.000-06:00

My camera went kaput this weekend. So here are the last pics that it will produce.
~ Thank you Kodak you have proven yourself well against the odds of the children in my home. But kicked over Soy Sauce was the final enemy that you could not defeat. May you rest in peace my old friend.~

My sweet little kitty cat! Meow.

The one Trick-or-Treat picture that turned out before Mr. Kodak started the painful slow in and out of death. The park pictures are from last weeks playdate. The sweet little girl in all pink, yeah that's the one, at lunch decided to sit on top of the table instead of the bench and kicked over my plate of sushi. (don't judge me I really wanted sushi for lunch and the park was not going to take that from me, little did I know.) Soy Sauce and wasbe went everywhere including all over her friend Gavin next to me. Mental note: Wasbe and an 18 mos are not a good combo. That was the most expensive $5 sushi I ever had. It all landed in the dirt under the table. That will teach me I need to stick to hotdogs or pb&j from now on!

Happy Halloween! (Lilly)

2008-10-30T17:23:00.000-05:00

Ms. Kelly and Lilly at school.

Hannah Montana is the director (principal)! How cool is that?

Butterfly wings, ballerina tutu... is she a fairy?

Not really sure about the velcro belt thingy but it keeps the wings on.

Wal-Mart going green?

2008-10-25T13:26:00.000-05:00

Don't get your panties in a wad I am not boycotting them this time. $ is too tight to do that. But whatever they say that they are doing to become greener is a load of milarky. I am pretty sure that my trip today included atleast 40 plastic bags. Yep I do have the canvas ones, but I sometimes I forget to bring them into the store. So if I had then I would have only had 30 plastic bags that I now have to remember to take in so they can be recycled.

Its Friday!

2008-10-24T07:16:00.000-05:00

This has been a long weird week. Starting with Monday. I took Natalie her lunch on the way to my stiching club, where we all decided that my machine died a slow horrible death, then at my lunch saw an old friend that I didn't care to see (long boring stupid story). When Natalie gets home she has her lunch in her hands, what? why? Her teachers forgot to give it to her. UGH! + side I got to see my parents for a little while. Then Tuesday we had the GS meeting here at my house. One word describes that ordeal... DRAMA! Wednesday was play-date and naps that was a great hump day. Thursday Dimples went to bed last night at 8:30. Lilly went to school, Natalie went to school and I got to have lunch with her this time. And for the best part the MDO said that Caitlin can begin school the 1st week of November instead of waiting for the 9th. In other words just 1 more week until I am home free for 10 a week, what oh what will I do? Today is Friday and it is GNO!

Newest Blogger

2008-10-23T18:21:00.000-05:00

We have a new addition to the blogger family. Natalie aka Punk #1 has been sucked into the black hole we all know and love! Click here to read her blog, and feel free to LEAVE COMMENTS!!! Also if your aren't scared join as a follower (that goes for this blog also.)

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-22T17:54:00.001-05:00