I am a worse than WALMART

I feel like a super market chain.....no it's not the fact that I have more non-essential food in my pantry than most daycares. I have my Halloween decorations up and it is not even October 1....you might say well October starts tomorrow....but NO I had them up last week, and forced myself to wait on the inflatables until today. I know it is pitiful....not the decorations the eagerness....I am a SUCKER for fall because once begun it only gets better. Halloween, then Turkey day, and Christmas, it is like a non stop decorating frenzy! My neighbors all give me grief over the blowups and I swear if I could find one for each month I would! Duke is groaning because he knows it is so true!

A week ago Reid, Macy and I all went to Big Top Kids around the corner to play. It was fun they had these "little tikes" motorcycles that Reid would not get off, good thing they had several. Little biker pulled wheelies all over the place. They loved the little rollercoaster and wore it out pretty good, but my favorite memory has to be of them in the moon bounce. Macy was struggling to climb up a part and Reid jumped down and pushed, and pushed her until she made it up and then climbed up and smiled for me. ALL UN-COACHED. Macy really has the best big brothers they doat on her all the time.

Macy is in Twirl & Tap at the her childcare center.....sooo cute. The pictures are awful b/c I did not want her to see me, so I was sneaking around in classrooms and such and a few times she saw me and I think she was pondering "Was that Mommy?" Also all my shots had her little freinds in them and were uncropable and showing pics of them is a no no. So here is the one I got...will do better next time. She really does well and follows directions and shakes her tail feather on demand....my prima ballarina

Dale is in flag football. He wanted to play tackle but I talked him into flag again this year. Good thing, he is again, the youngest and smallest on his team, BUT definatly not lacking for skill. He can catch and throw really well, and hangs with the others if not outdoing them. His team is the Longhorns, a fact he is very proud of. He came home last week with a picture from school of a hand drawn kid in a helmet and the number 10 on the shirt and below it he wrote. "I want to be a futball plaer" Duke asked his who is number 10....."VINCE YOUNG DAD", "thats my boy" was dads reply...We were practicing this afternoon and Reid was playing with us and Macy brought out her baby and purse and put the baby nite nite on the lawn, on a blanket. Girls and boys are POLAR OPPOSITES....I will snap a few shots of Dale in action this week at practice.

We also enjoyed some milk shakes for afternoon snack and had to show off our milk-staches.

Jeep Jamboree and Botique Shopping

The FACE OFF...who will win....the Jeep b/c the Hummer is a chicken!
The White Group
Dukes Muse
Wheeling and Shopping.....

Funny how such extremes can make a family mesh. This weekend Duke left with the boys on Thursday at 1:00 to go meet up with the Jeep Jamboree outside Llano, and get all registered. They broke up into 6 color groups because there were 150+ jeepers there, and went to tackle the rocks very near Enchanted Rock. Huge granite rocks.....just waiting for carnage. They wheeled on all day Friday, and Saturday. Duke was very proud of his Jeep, he got to use his winch.....with an "I" not an "E", I was shopping.....and it maneuvered very well and in his opinion was one of the best there. (I have to agree his was pretty good looking.) They helped a group who flipped over, and a few other breaks....on day 1. Day 2 more wheeling and Duke got a boo boo diagnosed by Macy....to his rear bumper a dent...however it is a part that is on a list to be replaced so if your gonna break something, it was the item to break.....100% cosmetic. We opted to stay at a hotel in Llano but there was a huge camp dedicated to the Jamboree complete with catered breakfast lunch and dinner each day. Next year I think we will rent and RV and camp...anyhow, the hotel was "under renovation"....which should just say the pool is broke...because that is what it always is. So the boys were a little bummed that they could not swim but Daddy rescued the day on Saturday and let them play and swim in the Llano river, Dale apparently is adept in catching fish bare-handed and taught others. All in all ....all the boys had a great time and can't wait for next year.

HMMMM...that looks not so safe???
"see you do it like this" The fish catching demo

Macy and I headed out on Friday morning and went to the Fredricksburg trade days and got Duke his birthday gift, some really cute one-of outfits for Macy, she also picked out a purse made from oil cloth, and bought a YUMMY funnel cake and lemonade. They had some really cute things there, will have to return again soon. Then we headed to Main Street and shopped some more buying toys for the boys, some cute fabric for my diaper cloth burp rags I make for friends, some Jewelry for Macy, and a few other small things. Then Macy picked dinner which was guacamole...so we went to Mamacitas and she had a huge bowl of guacamole, she ate grac tacos, guac and chips, guac off the fork and fingers....good stuff. All full of the green stuff we drove to Llano to meet up with the boys and give them their goodies.

Saturday then boys left early and we slept until 9, then foraged for food.....Llano is lacking on the food I must say we ended up shopping first to find out where to eat and were told The Hunger Hunter had pancakes, OK so we finished the 4 stores that were in Llano and came out with 2 cute shirts both for Macy and went to find the Hungry Hunter.....no pancakes apparently shopping took long enough that breakfast was over so we got fries and chicken fried steak .....pretty good but have had better....none the less it was food, clean, and hot. So then we drove all over Llano to see the sights...there were none, played at the local "Park" that was kinda laughable, our play set outback would put it to shame but they did have an old school merry-go-round so we played on that and did some swinging. By now it was around 1:30 and I was hoping Macy would fall asleep and nap in the car. Duke and I decided to check out a day early since they finished up at 6:30 Saturday night, and with nothing to occupy the kids we might as well go home....sooo Macy and I had no "home" to go to so we drove and drove.....potty break and drove....ended up at the campsite around 3:00 and with out a nap and just hung out with a couple locals and fellow Jeepers who did not wheel. Daddy came back and we ate and played, listened to the UT game via radio and then hit the road around 7 pm and hauled it home. Much to my surprise the boys stayed awake all the way home, and we walked in the door and bathed and went to bed.....putting a very full/fun weekend behind us. I have no pictures of my fun obviously because Duke had the camera....next time.

HOOK EM'....now that she's learned it she is SOO proud of it.....and so is Daddy.

Hey let me see your grill

We better call the jewerly store and have them make Dale a grill.....because he is grill-less. So Tuesday night Duke pulled the other front tooth.... I have to say I love his gummy grin.





So the first week of school is winding to a close and all is a success thus far. All except for my house.....wow looks like a train wreck. Being busy and away all day, then coming home and dumping has taken its toll....so looks like tomorrow will be a FUN FILLED day of straightening up. But the routine is good for us, after our week in Hawaii we lost all regiment and then that next week was the last week of summer and all routine was out the window. So I am glad to I get back to the gym, Duke got back to his running routine, and the kids are back to bed early. Hopefully this weekend we can do a little labor around the house to the yard and such....hope your labor day holiday is labor less.

Day One....One Tooth....

So day 1 of first grade was good. He got the most punches on his card....5 of them only 5 more and he can buy an eraser or pencil, or eat lunch with the teacher....which is what he wants to do. Yea I see politics in his future...have a sit down with the person who calls the shots...smart boy. He said they sit all day at the desks and there were no centers to play at, but that it was fun. His best little Buddy has a different recess time so he was a little bummed about that but they do get to see each other at lunch and there are other boys in his class he knows and likes so it is ok.

Tonight at 8:20 we are headed to bed and decide to have Duke pull on one of the front teeth that is SOOOO LOOSE. Now you all know Duke he has HUGE hands and fills the rumor that he has huge gloves too....ha ha got cha...any how yea huge hands that I love b/c they are so reassuring and comforting to me but to pull teeth from a 6 yr old mouth....yea Dale talks like he has a mouth the size of Canada but I promise you it is normal sized....so I find the pulling, a feat in itself...so POP out comes the tooth on the first pull, and lots of blood but stopped it with lots of ice chips and off to bed for the fairy to come....he just lost a tooth on Friday night, and the tooth fairy paid out 5 bucks so I can only assume that will be the case again, and I told Dale that I think that 5 bucks a tooth is tops for the fairy....he said "yea probably but 10 would be COOL!" So now he looks so goofy, yet cute with one center tooth on top and one on bottom, and the other top tooth is days away from being gone....my Dale the toothless wonder.

That is one toothless happy kid

Check out that G A P... you could sail a boat through that space!

So I was a total goof in that I failed to give props to my brother and sister in law for keeping the kids while we went to the Texas 4000 tribute. They really had a blast. The went swimming, and got to sleep in a fort, and watch movies, and go bowling out front.....sounds like a blast to me. Scott and Tanya claimed that the kids were good and that they had a good time too....hope that is true so they earn the Awesome Aunt and Uncle Award as well.....and Brad well he is good too.....but lets say brothers tell no tales, and I know what you did last Saturday.....he he he, so Jonelle can be an Awesome Aunt but your title is in question.....just kidding my kids are really blessed to have such great, giving, loving people in their lives.

Reid and Macy did great at school today. Reid got to be the line leader b/c he was the quietest.....which is the biggest deal to little kids, and he also got to carry the walke talke on the way to and from the main building. He asked his morning if he gets to go on a field trip today....since that is a big perk for the kinder readiness class....I said not today but soon. he went in like a champ and started playing.

All ready for school....sans backpacks b/c they were too heavy to carry....filled with supplies



Macy did great as well. She did ask if she could go eat breakfast with Kathy and Becky but when I said no, she was ok with it and took off to put the classroom babies nite nite. No tears all day and took a nap and was happy to see me this afternoon but could have hung out a while longer and been fine too, so that to me is a huge plus.....here's to a great school year!

A Brand new year!

Today is the first day of school.....Dale was very excited and a little nervous. He said the only thing he was at all worried about was making a new friend. I know he will make tons of new friends, and I think he is a little scared that he will lose his friendship with his best little buddy, who is no longer in his class, but who lives in our neighborhood so I am sure that it will continue to flourish.



Reid & Macy start their new classes tomorrow. Reid will be in the BIG KID Treehouse building that has a gym attached. I know he will love it, but I am certain there will be a couple of tears and clinging to my leg, and hiding behind me this first week for him.



Macy .....well she too will learn to love her class. I think it might be hardest for her, she will be leaving the loving, comfortable environment of Kathy and Becky. She was so well loved in their hands, I had zero trepidation dropping her off, and her new teacher has had Dale and Reid in the past and has even had Macy too and is wonderful and great as well, but I highly doubt that she will get the same specialized treatment of strawberry milk, falling asleep in Kathy's lap...... in her new class.



So to jump trains Duke and I went to Austin and met up with Troy and Carolyn, The Joe's (Carolyn's parents), and Magnus ( what a great name!) and Stephanie, Magnus's wife (Troys college buddy) for the Texas 4000 for Cancer Tribute. It is a group of UT college kids that bicycle from Austin TX to Anchorage Alaska. A 4500 mile trip, which each rider will ride at least 4000 miles. Each rider must raise and donate $4000, to ride, and daily the riders gather up and dedicate their day of riding to a person effected by cancer. Their goals are to touch people through Charity, Knowledge and Hope. They stop at hospitals on the way to visit with local residents, give out knowledge of how to protect your self and loved ones through information from the American Cancer Society and MD Anderson. And finally to give hope for beating cancer, just as a cancer patient and family must fight all odds to beat their disease, they ride across the nation beating the elements as the elements beat on them proving that the unthinkable is attainable....not easy but can be done. Carolyn has created and donated paintings the last 2 years for auction, Troy has been a big supporter of this group and has had a hand in helping it evolve from a small, self funded, volunteer group to now a corporate funded, staffed, supported machine that is so touching and inspiring. Also, it is great to know that your entire donation go to cancer research, since Sense Corp generously funds the group this is possible. Duke and I were very inspired, and proud of Troy and Carolyn and their involvement in this group. I you want to know more check out the website http://www.blogger.com/www.texas4000.org Also on another note last month, the Texas legislature passed the companion legislation, HJR 90, which assures a public vote on November 6 and offers Texans an opportunity to approve $3 billion in general obligation bonds that would provide $300 million a year for cancer research in Texas, I think it is something we all need to vote for, Cancer costs Texans approximately $30 billion a year in direct and indirect costs. This year alone, more than 85,000 Texans will be diagnosed with cancer, and nearly 35,000 Texans will lose their lives to the disease. I personally know too many people directly affected by cancer....and I am sure you do too.

Troy and Carolyn and Duke and I at the dinner

Ok I digress and wish you all a great school year and much love!

Check out my Slide Show!

Also go to Carolyns page....her Maui post is great.... http://www.carolyndaniel.blogspot.com/

ALOHA!

ALOHA

Wow we just got back from the best vacation ever.....we took the whole crew to Maui Hawaii. Flossie tried to dampen our spirits but other than a little wind and making a few waves, the attempt was laughable. We do appreciate all our friends and family that were concerned for us and feared the worst but we were all for the best there.
Saturday after we checked in we hit the beach....late and swam there and in the pool. Then on Sunday we rode Atlantis submarine down 131 feet to the ocean floor and let the boys experience what Duke and I see when we scuba dive. Saw a ship wreck, and some cool fish and coral...the boys and adults loved it. Troy asked Reid if he wanted to sit on his lap, because he looked a little nervous on the boat ride out and he said no.....I'll just hold your hand....and was a brave little dude, but once on the sub.....he was loving the window portals to the ocean floor. We also shopped Front Street and ate at Bubba Gumps.....and saw Forrest run.... ocean side, sunny and with family what more could you want.

On Board Atlantis

Monday we took the crew on a Volcano tour to the big island. We saw some majestic views of cliffs, valleys and waterfalls that were so beautiful. Reid took the most expensive nap ever on the ride there. So then we cruise in to see the lava flow. The top of the volcano is no longer erupting, it is a giant steam vent ....it erupted and then it caved in on itself and now there is a huge lava flow that broke out on the side. Because of the volcano there are earthquakes on the island daily some big, some small. So the ride in to see the flow was OOOHH SOOO BUMPY....like crazy bumpy...we dipped a wing and saw it....really cool looking, crystal clear views of the flow and mountain and then caught a quick turn to catch it again and the clouds had moved in so quick you could not see ANYTHING.....apparently the weather on the volcano is moment by moment, so captain Bill opted for our safety and we started the return trip home rather than another shot at the flow. So at this point I am SMILING and BREATHING.....anything to not use my ALOHA bag......Dale is hurting too....as well as Reid. Duke is enjoying the ride. I found my tiny air conditioner vent and stuck my face in it and avoided the ALOHA....Dale fell asleep, as well as Reid and soon we were to smoother air and back on Maui.....feeling better and happy to have feet on solid ground.
So for the rest of the day we swam and hung out. FYI Captain Bill plays the bass in a Hawaiian Band and we were treated to his music on flight and his cd upon landing.....what is the difference between surf music and volcano music......volcano music is HOT.....yea sad joke but it's Captain Bills

Reid serenading us at dinner.....
Tuesday we played at the ocean and the pool for a good half of the day and my chest showed it.....so that afternoon we all rested shopped at Whalers Village and ate at Cool Cat Cafe .....live music, good food and family.
Wednesday we swam and then went to ride the SUGAR CANE TRAIN. Grabbed lunch and ate it on the train ride back. The kids played on a life size toy train and Dale scaled the steam spout.....only Dale.... so Duke and I had our romantic dinner that he arranged for Troy and Carolyn to watch the monkeys....so we went to LeLani's on the beach and had some amazing food, and watched an even better sunset and we took a walk on the beach.....very nice....and the company was even better.
Thursday we had Family Beach Day and rented cabana's right outside the hotel on the beach, Dale snorkeled all over with Duke, Troy turned Reid into a bogey board champ.....and Macy is a sea monkey.....that little girl loves the water.....any water. We built sand castles with Carolyn and Troy....who by the way have to be the best Aunt and Uncle ever! We hung out with Mamma Sam in the cabana's. Then that afternoon the boys and Duke and I went pari-sailing. 800 feet up over paradise, sooo goood. Reid was my buddy and he loved it, got to see the different colors of the water, but did ask "why are we up here?" Dale and Duke rode and Dale asked if they could stay up all day, when Justin said sure...$700 you can have it all day. Dale looked at Duke with his PAY THE MAN DADDY....look. So obviously he loved it and wants to do it again and declared Thursday as the best part of the entire vacation, Then we went to The Aloha Mixed Plate for dinner as a family on Troy and Carolyn's last night.
Friday we said our goodbye's to Troy and Carolyn, Dale was extra sad b/c "Mom, Carolyn means more to me than you know, she's special." And yes she is Dale.
The rest of the day Friday we went to Lahina and shopped a bit, went to Hard Rock for lunch and milkshakes, mailed 2 coconuts, and went back to the beach to swim one last time. We also found this huge hole on the beach and claimed it and played for hours digging tunnels, watching the tide roll in....it was very relaxing and fun.

Saturday after check out we went to the Maui Aquarium to see the sharks, turtles, fish, jellies, eels, shrimp.....and a scuba diver feeding the sharks....Macy's favorite part. Then we took the toomungus bus.....Macys version of Humongous bus turned it in and headed home....the flights were uneventful which is good, and on the last flight to SA we had a bunch of soldiers on their way home from Iraq.....thanks for your work guys....and girls. Dale declared that if there were girl they would have on dresses....and then was proven wrong when one came aboard in BDU's that were pants....

Another funny was that Dale made a friend on the plane on the way there from Dallas to Maui, she was in first class and he was with Mamma Sam in first as well. They bonded over hubba bubba. We saw her again at baggage claim and he was bummed b/c he forgot her name. Sam ans I both said well Maui is a small island maybe you will see her again.....so on Tuesday at the pool, I see Dale playing with a girl....and think WOW she looks kinda like the girl from the plane......it was her, staying at the Kaanapali Beach Club with us.....and to top it off on the same flight home and sat in the row infront of us! So they played on and off all week at the pool....Small world....her name is Lauren, lives in Dallas, but she is only a friend as he declared. Dale the ladies man, meets a girl on the way to Maui, that is like every single persons dream and he does it at age 6.

Macy the beach babe!

Now that is a big DECK

So the crew from ALL ABOUT DECKS finished the deck in the back yard. Now all I have to do is wait for it to shrink and stain it to match the other part. It is really nice.

Also this week Dale and I took a fieldtrip to a really cool Ranch in Bandera..... Enchanted Springs Ranch. They have a ton of awesome longhorns and animals like llamas and catfish, pigs, horses and lots of deer. They look like an old west town, have been in lots of movies and have another movie they are the backdrop in starting this fall. They do a neat christmas deal for the kids that we will go to this winter.

HOOK UM!

It was really beautiful there.....made you wish for some property on the river!

And then we just had some good water fun in the front yard on our slippin slide..

60th issue

It is my 60th... blog. Ok so let me recap the weekend. Duke took the boys offroading in Llano and they LOVED it....the Jeep performed great and Duke was very impressed and only laid it over in a tree once, and it only left little scratches. The boys thought it was the very best thing ever. Macy went to visit her teacher at her house.....Mrs. Kathy....yea on one her 2 days off she wanted to have Macy come visit....twist my arm. So I dropped her off and she arrived home numerous hours later after swimming, going out to lunch, and a shopping trip. She came home with a new dress, bow, and 3....yes 3 new pairs of sandals, are you thinking spoiled? Well your right....when Macy has to graduate to a big girl class in 3 weeks....it is going to be TOUGH! So I had a very relaxing day and didn't do much I mowed the lawn, cleaned, and grocery shopped....I should have done something much more exciting and adventurous but ah such is life.
In more recent news my pleads to have a deck extension are coming to fruition....We ripped all the vine out of one of the trees.....which was HARD, tore out 3 shrubs and 1 other small tree, a ton of elephant ears and have a HUGE space for a bigger deck. They started today and should be done on Thursday....YEA. So I will send some pictures soon. Ok must run b/c we have to get going before 10 tomorrow and my kids have gotten in the habit of sleeping until 10....yea school days are going to be SO MUCH FUN!

From a high maintence woman to a maintance man

I WAS living HI on the hog.....the lady of leisure lifestyle and now back to reality. On Friday we tested out our new cleaning lady. She got here at 9:20 and was here until 5:20.....YIKES but man did she ever clean.....windows, blinds, pulled the stove out from the wall and cleaned....and all for a great price so we will keep her and after a few more cleans I will let her in and then go and return.....not comfortable with the key thing. But if you need a cleaning lady...lemme know she wants more homes. So then my leisure continued and Bepaw, came and got the kids and rode off into the sunset like my knight and shining babysitter. So Duke and I then headed off to Fool's Moon in Bandera....tiny little place with great steak and this Portabella mushroom Gorgonzola cream sauce that wow is sooooo goooood. Carolyn your new mission is to perfect this sauce.......I ate my entire steak so fast I physically hurt in a good way, then tried some Dr. pepper chocolate cake.....that was ok, but could have ended with a bowl of the sauce for the steak and been in heaven, but probably would have gotten a few looks....so if you want some great food, unique quaint atmosphere, and supposedly good wine...go Fools Moon Bandera on Main St......dinner only on Friday nights....

So then after dinner we went to see Evan Allmighty.....SHEEEP....cute movie but could wait for the rental. Then Saturday I was really high maintenance and went to La Cantera Spa and had a body polish and massage, facial, and French pedicure. AHHH so very nice and relaxing, and not that I am a spa connoisseur but I think I like the Hyatt Hill Country Resort Spa better only for layout but the massage here was better and softer at La Cantera....I am NOT a Deep tissue person I am naturally tight and knotty so for a masseuse to not work it all out is apparently very hard to resist and I usually end up sore but not here. So after my day of beauty I return home, and Duke was ending his day of pampering. His Jeep got new shoes....and really big ones too, so he took the top off the jeep and we went for a ride and it was lots of fun. Then grabbed a burger at Fuddruckers and saw Pirates of the Caribbean 3. A little long and I told Duke that the marriage during a battle was a bit much and he retorted but the fish people, now that is reality.....tooo shea....good movie none the less.

Sunday we awoke to the rain after 2 days of sun.....and headed to Kerrville to get the kids. So they come home with goodies from my parents recent trip to abroad and movies from Hastings and Mc Donalds toys......and the water guns Grandma bought stay there but apparently were awesome for water fights....so the brood is TIRED but so happy to have been there for the weekend. So we get back and I mowed the lawn and weed eated, taking advantage of a clear sky and ....b/c nothing is better for a new $65 dollar pedicure than weed eating.....and then we installed my new washer/dryer combo. Duke took the kids for a ride in the Jeep and Macy made it all the way back and crashed out at the top of the street too tired to continue, so Duke rigged up a fan in the garage to blow directly on her so she could sleep a bit, and I woke her up to eat dinner. So late Sunday night after baths I decide to try it out the machine.....on the spin cycle it was walking across the floor.....and on the dry it was really freaking hot .....like clothes steaming, side of the machine burning your hand HOT. So I called this morning and turns out there is a metal panel on the back of the washer that is for TRANSPORTATION only and needs to be removed BEFORE use......ahhh....so for the last hour I took out 4 screws.....the first 2 out with a little work, 3rd needed a few choice words to entice it out. Now the 4th, well it is still there, I have used all my choice words....twice at least and done a pretty good job at stripping the stupid thing out. So I tried channel locks....various screwdrivers and come to the realization I am a crappy maintenance man...out witted by a screw send me back to the spa! So I will let you know if you install the maching right, if it works then...... Also we finally got a new camera, the old one was having some screen issues so here are some pics off the new one.



Macy all tuckerd out in the Jeep with a fan on her. Daddys little Jeep princess

My little maintenance kidsTopless with big.....tires.....the JEEP people ....get your mind out of the gutter!The only visible proof I was pampered this weekend!

After creating heaven and earth,God created Adam and Eve and the first thing he said was "DON'T ! "
"Don't what? " Adam replied.
"Don't eat the forbidden fruit." God said.
"Forbidden fruit? We have forbidden fruit? Hey Eve..we have forbidden fruit! "
"No Way! "
"Yes way! "
"Do NOT eat the fruit! " said God.
"Why ? "
"Because I am your Father and I said so! " God replied, wondering why He hadn't stopped creation after making the elephants. A few minutes later,God saw His children having an apple break and He was ticked! "Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit? " God asked.
"Uh huh," Adam replied.
"Then why did you? " said the Father.
"I don't know," said Eve.
"She started it! " Adam said.
"Did not! "
"Did too! "
"DID NOT! "
Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed.



Not really sure it happened quite like that but a Mom can dream.....

So the rain is still here and I am in fear for my yards retaining wall.....I had a HUGE amount of water shooting out the middle of it....and checked after the rain slowed and it was leaning in the wrong direction so I pushed it back with my feet....my highly efficient power tool...we will see if it holds or if it crashes and burns......I am so done with the rain....the daily rain.....and guess what I looked at the weather today I guess a gluten for punishment and it said Definite Thunderstorms....and I think that the computer pointed and laughed at me.

AHH my poetic intervention

Ode to the rain you make our plants oh so green, my yard so mushy, my kids so cabin crazy and mean.

Ode to the rain, you drop the temperature of the air, my kids are pasty and grey because the sun is not there.

Oh ode to the rain, puddles are a treat of small feet, and the hordes of breeding mosquito's waiting for a feast to eat.

Ode to rain my patience is gone I need some sun to pull me out of this deprivation from the sun.

Oh ode to the rain such great plans for my yard, deck extensions and rock wall now all wait at the bottom of a wet vendors list ....waiting is HARD!

Ode to the rain that I did not buy a new car....now maybe not a Prius but an amphibious might not be to far.

Ode to the rain I have a water fall in my back yard, I thought my trashy pool broke but no just a natural flood from afar.

Ode to the rain my kids sadly request to swim every day, my only concession is it keeps MY bathing suit body away.

Ode to the rain GIMME A BREAK I live in Central Texas not in a flippin' LAKE.

Weekend recap

So today is the down hill slide of the weekend.....ahhh. I love the whole family just laying around watching TV and hanging out. It is my refill time to recoop.
So this weekend was a great one minus the rain on friday and saturday....my back yard is a mud slide....it is so gross and mushy but thanks to our neighbors power washer the flagstone is minus the layer of dirt and mold and ick that has been fermenting with all the rain, mud, shade....I had no idea it was as gross as it was.....eeeeeww and I had a couple other moments this weekend that had the very emotion come out of me.....After I mowed and weed eated ....I did ....Duke and I got me a weed eater I can do that is light and easy to start, so I have lawn duty now....and I kinda like it, I am with power tools so that means NO KIDS for 30 mins, any way, I decided power washing was a deacent idea to clean the drive.....well I had no idea it was as nasty as it was in spots it was BLACK.....no joke, HOW DID I NOT SEE THIS BEFORE! So 4 hours, 3 tanks of gas later my drive is white again and ready to be grubbied up by tires and such. Which took not time at all and the mini bike left a skid mark on the drive just moments ago....oh the pain but oh well. The SUPER DUPER GRODY Award goes to the washing machine! I was doing laundry on friday and noticed the rim of the washer was a little yucky and had some liquid fabric softener on it so I started the next load and begain to use a towel to wipe it up.....no biggie....then the bleach bin....and the lid....then in wiping what I thought was the final wipe on the inner rim....my hand hit an alien mass.....gooey and gross and green.....but very fragrant....upon closer inspection the ENTIRE inner rim was a good inch deep of the goo.....purple and green in color and like a gel, but smelled great.....it was fabric softener that never made it to the wash....this washer is the old school top load and the thing in the middle allows you to pour in fabric softener and it will do it for you, sucking it down the middle and pumping it out the top at the appropriate time....well it is not as efficent as I would like and kinda pools and sits and becomes goo..... I had no idea....and wow I went OCD on the thing until it was clean and tossed the towel I started with as well as an entire roll to paper towels. WOW so gross and I will think twice before I dump my downy in there again!

I also saw my old college sorority sister and roommate this weekend at her baby shower....she is having TWINS and is SOOOO tiny still and cute, she has the height on her side at 5 11 so she has room and is 24 weeks and each baby is allready 1 lb each! I predict she will have one of those pregnancies that people will envy....pregnancy agrees with Patti, she is glowing and beautiful. It was so good to see her and way too long in coming, I will have to do better.

In other news there is not much to report, Dale has been glued to the computer and the nick jr games.....Reid is really close to grasping the swimming consept and LOVES his teacher....my neighbors neice....which is HUGE for Reid and the lessons are my neighbors pool which is so convient and comfortable for him and me. Macy is a goof ball....but so dang cute she can get away with anything. Duke is great too he has been working on his Jeep lots and it has a new lift on it and some other stuff I either have really forgotten or have chosen to forget to get the total cost out of my head....but I will admit it looks COOL really cool...and he deserves it he has been working really hard. Ok well I am off to wash the stink off my body and call it a night... too bad my kids are not ready to do the same.

Picture of Perfection

So we went to take pictures and although I was less than thrilled with the 2 hour photo session and all the waiting and waiting and such....some of the pictures are so fantastic. So I guess all in all it was a success. Mom , Sam and sibs you are all getting some in the mail soon.

one....two....three..... (silence)

What is different in these 2 pictures?

Macy got her ears pierced today at of all places Walmart! I actually did some research and her pediatrician does not pierce ears, Claire's the selection of earring is limited at best, and I did not want a teeny bopper with black lipstick anywhere near this. And Walmart has a HUGE selection of earrings, piercing is free when you buy a set of earrings, and they have the rounded back on the post so there is no chance to poke her little head....which Clair's did not offer and it was done by 2 very nice older women who I am sure pierced their kids and grand kids ears. Best part she did not cry at all. I bought some Orajel...the tooth numbing stuff and put a little on her ear lobes and waited about 10 min's and we did it. We all were geared for the scream and tears and NOTHING.....she just sat and then smiled! The boys both agreed she was super brave and now we can accessorize....well in 6 weeks. She has been asking Daddy for jewelry and earrings for some time, and has tried to put on mine and Daddy finally caved last night to her " Daddy I want earrings, Please" . He was apposed b/c he did not want to ruin her innocence, piercings......getting all tatted up....what next. Ahhh Dukes logic.....nonsense I thought. And then just to prove me wrong we came home and she found a pen and tattooed her self.....guess Daddy was right.....