Little Sis

I have a sister.
She is fun.
Mostly she's just is funny.
We don't hang out much; but when we do- I always end up laughing out loud.
Our last adventure took us to Sam's Club on a lonely Wednesday night. We are two mature almost adults going grocery shopping at the local surplus store. No big deal.
Until Sadie decides she would rather ride than walk ("those babies have it made, I'm doing this their way!") So I watch in hysterics as my 13 year old sister climbs on in.

Sadie attempting to climb into the grocery buggy


Sadie happily settled in the grocery buggy

I could not take pictures of her getting out because I was laughing too hard, and I had to lift her out myself. I guess they should put an age limit on those things. How else are other mature adults going to know that they don't get to ride?
I love hanging out with my nutty sister.

Camping- in style

I love to camp. I love to be pampered. I never really thought the two went together. But at our girls camp we were all spoiled. It was a resort outside of San Antonio, that was really nice. The cabins were very nice, with comfortable beds and all the amenities. The food was fantastic- served to us three times a day. The horseback riding, lounging at the pool and even serenading around the fire by professionals combined to make a pretty sweet vacation for me.
WAIT! IT'S NOT VACATION- IT'S GIRLS CAMP!!
What ever happened to the girls camp of my childhood; sleeping bags, and cots. Fires, that we built and food that we cooked and suffering and latrines? Camping is not supposed to be cushy. I will admit that being a leader had drawbacks. So much drama! I had forgotten living with little children, how much there is to complain about as a teenager- even at a resort. It was time away from my life into a completely different one of young women and their suffering. My response to 90% of all their wining became DWI (deal with it!). And yet it did give me ample time to see these girls as they will one day become. It was humbling to see such strength and fear together. It was a once in a lifetime experience that I'm not sure I'm ready to repeat anytime soon.

We are being attacked with cuteness

 

AHHHHHHHHHH! She's comming for you next. Just open your arms and welcome all that cuteness in.

To blog or not to blog...

 

I can't help myself. I have held off for quite awhile... but my kids are too cute, my house is too mine, and my fingers are bored. So BLOG ON! and where it goes from here- no one can know. Pictures of the house are comming. really.

It's all a blur

If anyone does check this site any more- I have a huge apology.
I've become so lost in the frenzy of our life that blogging no longer seems to find a space. I had pictures from Easter and our short lived new pets and new hair cuts and Gran and Grandad fun- but I have packed all the wires that connect the camera to the computer. I just can't find the time to blog adequately between the packing of junk and showing of house, and wiping of noses and meeting with agents and all that other stuff we all do every day. I do love to stay in touch, but I'm currently out of touch. Sorry. I will probably be shutting down this blog soon. I don't need the reminded guilt of another thing I'm not doing.
So if you are reading- it was nice while it lasted, but with our move next week- some things are are more important than my personal computer time. Fangs for the memories.

Don't Pray for Patience!

Ho hum. We are just sitting around, watching our toe nails grow. Life is on the verge of changing for us, and there is NOTHING WE CAN DO TO SPEED IT UP! It feels a lot like those last few weeks of pregnancy (love you EM) when you know it's coming, you feel like you're going to POP, but you just have to wait it out.

I am not known for my patience. I'm the girl who calls you on the phone several times in succession, until you pick up. Children are supposed to help develop this virtue; but I find they are only aggravating my condition. Everything is going in slow motion, like we are underwater- and I'm completely sober!

So don't pray for patience, because you're bound to get lots of practice. Instead we pray that our house will magically close tomorrow! See how practical I am? In the meantime, we trim our nails.

Drumroll, Please

So I didn't want to disclose our exciting news until everything was signed and certain. But as you see, that could take a very long time. We are currently in the process of buying our first home, and are very excited. It has been nearly ten years of renting, and I believe the time has come for a bit of escrow. The home is perfectly placed .4 miles from Shane's work, and the boy's school, and our church. We feel very blessed to have found our little dream house. Things are still in process, but we are pretty sure that all will go through. Call it stupidity or faith; we're definitely counting our chicks.

This may be a bit of a let down to you, if you were expecting some earth shattering news (not quite a skinhead, but I did cut NINE inches off my hair); but we are pretty elated. Wish us luck in the mad world of mortgages.

Hold on....Something's bound to happen

I am reluctant to post until I have concrete evidence of something exciting. So we may seem boring- but really all the good stuff is in the works. Just be patient my little amigoes, and hopefully I'll have a hand-clappin' good post in the near future. In the meantime we are all flouishing in the Texas winter and lovin life. Even when it's hectic, crazy, loud and looney; Life is good.

Is trying enough?

Every year I set the same goals; more or less. I see so many holes that need to be filled. There is a mammoth pressure to be more than I am now. I have been reading inspiring posts from dear friends who aspire and inspire. I want to catch their vision of a positive, productive future. Yet, too often I am just plain stuck; stalled in my own quick sand of fatique. I feel like my intentions are good, like I really am trying as much as I can; but we inevitably fall short. Are my goals too high? Possibly my thoughts are too low. I just don't think that trying is enough anymore. There are people, cute, little people who depend on me, and a network of friends and strangers that I am meant to lift. Am I enough?

I don't think mine is a singular experience. And though self perception plays a role- it is not the only qualifier. We all struggle in different ways, and the ebb and flow of our lives brings us to different places. I don't need reasurance that I am special or able. I know that. I just need to vent and allow that I am far from my original goals. They are the same- but I am not. I guess our ladder to our potential is so long that we're not always sure if we have made any progress. It's still just one rung after another. I am trying and I guess that has to be enough, because there isn't anyother option.

Move on. Move on to where? And when does the moving stop?

This line from my childhood seems appropriate as I look at my family; particularly, my baby girl. She's a walking fool! She actually kind of waddles in a bowlegged kind of way. We wondered when she would decide to move vertically. With her it is not a question of ability- but motive. One day at 16 months she was ready, and BAM! My baby grew up. It's just a bit odd to look around and see this tiny little doll baby walking with the big boys.

 

I can't get enough of this girl!

Sniff, Cough, Blow- repeat.

We are all sick. It started with one and then it went down like dominoes. I'm not sure what to call it- maybe just the just leave me here to rot virus. I can't even muster up the energy to take us to the doctor. So I have to diagnose myself. Symptoms are: fever, cough, runny nose, sinus pressure, ear aches, body aches, irritability, loss of appetite, sour throat, excess mucus, lethargy, and overall bad attitude. I think that covers it. We are treating with vapor rub (on feet too!), Ibuprofen, saline, triaminic, orange juice, Diego, peppermint tea, and Leave it to Beaver. So far only one recovery. Seth was able to come through to the other side and even went to school today, after a full 6 days of sickness. So I figure we have another three weeks to go before we can all face the day snot free. So far 2008 makes my head hurt.

I have a disease!

I don't know how I got it. I was so careful, avoiding any contamination from anyone else who had it. I washed my hands after even coming into contact with the idea. I even was on a strict daily treatment. And I still caught the disease. I am now a Grey's Anatomy junkie. I am addicted. I thought not having a television would keep me from it- but no- thanks to the blasted collection of the series that you can buy (or borrow from a friend in my case) I'm hooked. I can't even watch just one episode at a time. I watch the entire season! Now the other symptoms are becoming apparent: the bags under my eyes from staying up all night watching, the ever increasing feeling that I know and understand the practice of medicine and surgery, the haunting feeling that my new friends are around me all the time (fictional characters do not exist!), and the intense desire to lock my children away so that I can watch more without corrupting their young minds. Help me! I'm so very sick. I'm currently lost in the middle of season 3. There is a long road of healing in store for me.

It's bound to be a good day

Growing Up

Our family is changing. It's not something I can see every day - just all of a sudden I woke up this morning and saw that my kids are bigger, brighter, and baby free. We have spare baby suits handy, just in case; but I'm pretty sure they won't go backwards. My gang is moving forward and growing up. It is truly an amazing thing to look back and see the milestones already sped past. I'm not ready for teenagers- but I hear that comes up on you pretty fast, whether you're ready or not.
Until I can manage the time, money and ambition for a professional family picture- this one will have to do.

It's Infectious!

This whole crazy blogness is spreading. My sister and college room-mate just caught the disease. Check them out :
Megan Keck
Cyndi Selim
She has the cutest video that every mom must see- just to make your day brighter

Peace on Earth

I'm back! So I took a short sabbatical- 6 blog free weeks. I may have lost all my readers, but my sanity is intact. Why is it that the holidays are so very crazy? I knew that if I sat down for two minutes, then I'd be lost. Now that is passed, school has started and I can finally enjoy Peace on Earth, (at least my acre of it).

We have been so busy that I haven't even been reading blogs. I have fallen off the planet- completely lost. Wow- you guys are busy! What a wonderful thing to have friends and to be able to share in their triumphs and losses through the computer. If you can't be there with them, at least you are thinking, laughing, praying with them at home.

I don't have a lot to report- the past 6 weeks are a little blurry. We have been fighting illness, time, and rodents- yes, rodents. We found traces of what appears to be a very evil, vindictive rat in our minivan. We set every trap known to man, and baited it with endless options to appeal to the vermin appetite. He responded with severing my driver's side seat belt in half and decapitating two beloved stuffed animals. Like I said- pure evil. I accidentally left a neck wrap that was filled with flax seeds in van overnight. Inevitably, the plague-carrying, sewer-dweller chewed the neck wrap, feasting on flax seeds. So now his traces are everywhere and he has a healthy heart. Now he will never die! I just wanted to drive the entire vehicle into a lake and watch it sink. Instead... we called an exterminator. We believe we are now rodent free- but I live in constant fear. I'll never feel safe in that car again. I am rerouting all spending to the rat-free car fund. Currently taking donations in the form of cats- mean ones.

I do love vacations. It's so good to have a husband around, and having an excuse to stay in your pajamas all day- but.... I'm so grateful to get back into a routine. I need a set schedule and so do the little people. Hope 2008 finds you all hopeful and happy. We all deserve a really great year.