7 years ago
December 25, 2012
November 28, 2012
Mowing, Art, Holidays and Trees
I mowed about a month ago.
Thanksgiving was fun.
Ryan doesn't like our real tree this year.
It's not big enough for his taste.
He likes to let it be known
that I'm the one that chose it.
The kids asked if we could return it.
Alright, so I'll admit it's not the best tree ever.
Next year I'll keep my mouth shut.
We'll see how they do without my input.
(Real current I know.
But I haven't blogged for a month.
So bear with me.
Did you miss me?
I missed you all)
The bugs were crazy.
I swallowed two.
One went up my nose.
Another one tried to fly into my ear.
Plus there was a fly.
Buzzing.
Buzzing.
Buzzing.
Around my face.
I'm certain it was all fun for the neighbors to watch.
We went to a pumpkin patch this year.
This picture makes me laugh.
Halloween was fun.
Ryan and the little boys did some painting recently.
Ezzie painted a turkey.
I loved it.
And wanted to hang it up.
But he wanted to give it to a friend
who had broken her arm that night.
So we took it to her.
Ezzie made a teepee at school.
And gave a speech about it.
His class also had a feast.
He was so excited he invited both grandmas to come too.
Jobie drew a thanksgiving feast.
We usually don't make key lime pie on Thanksgiving.
I did this year.
The house is decorated for Christmas.
Mostly.
I'm still changing a few things.
I let the little boys
put the ornaments on the real tree this year.
That was hard for me.
Control freak.
It's not big enough for his taste.
He likes to let it be known
that I'm the one that chose it.
The kids asked if we could return it.
Alright, so I'll admit it's not the best tree ever.
Next year I'll keep my mouth shut.
We'll see how they do without my input.
We have 4 trees this year.
Stupid?
Yes.
It's a long story...
Before Jobie started school,
he never drew pictures or colored.
Now he will disappear into his room
and come out with pictures like this.
He said this is mommy and daddy.
Daddy says I look hot.
I think we look crazy in love.
October 29, 2012
In the Middle of a Burger King
(I feel like I need to set up this post
with some info on our Saturdays.)
Most Saturdays are spent at the soccer fields.
With 3 kids playing and one those kiddos reffing also,
we are there all day.
(Brookelynn will ref games before or after her own game.)
So we usually are leaving the house no later than 8am.
And getting home between 5 and 6:30.
The soccer fields are about 35 minutes from our house.
With gas prices the way they are,
once we leave home,
we don't come back until we are all done.
It gets a little old.
And the boys might complain a bit.
But she's earning some money.
So it's worth it.
I guess.
Which brings me to our little story:
This weekend was our last weekend for the fall season.
Brookelynn reffed a game at 9:00.
Since none of our kids had to play in a game until 12:00,
we had some time to kill.
If it's nice, we typically just hang out there.
But it was cold Saturday morning.
And Ryan needed to get some work done.
So we went to a nearby Burger King
for some coffee, orange juice and free wi-fi.
They also happen to have a play place
that the boys love.
So, there we are.
Sitting at a booth.
With our coffee.
Ryan with his ipad and phone.
Me with my phone.
(I left my book at home.
So was reading one of
Francis Chan's books on my phone.)
Still with our coats on.
(It was cold in there.)
The boys running around the play area.
For nearly 2 hours.
Are you getting a good picture in your head?
We look like...moochers.
And I was feeling a bit conspicuous.
Oh, but it gets better...
The boys, after drinking their oj,
naturally need to visit the restroom.
Often.
Jobe, also naturally, is holding himself.
Every time he heads to the restroom.
After one of those trips for both Ez and Jobe,
Ezra comes out of the restroom without his brother.
Walks to our table and says:
Jobe pooped his pants.
He was in the men's restroom.
So, guess who got to go help the boy?
Not me!
I'm just sitting in the booth thinking:
what are we going to do with those undies?
I sent Jake into the restroom to get the car keys from Ryan.
Went out to the car.
Got a Dillon's sack.
Stuck my head in the restroom door.
Handed the bag to Ryan.
Then went back to the car to drive to the nearby Kmart .
To buy some undies.
When I got back,
Ryan was back in our booth (ha!)
with the Dillon's sack sitting at his feet saying:
What do I do with this?
I handed Jobe a new pair of undies.
Told him to go put them on in the bathroom.
Picked up the plastic bag.
And threw it away.
Jobie comes out of the restroom.
Happy about his new dino undies.
And goes back to playing.
While I just look at Ryan,
put my head in my hands and say:
I feel so redneck.
A bit later, a gentleman,
who had been sitting alone nearby,
came over to our table
and introduced himself as a pastor of a local baptist church.
He gave us a brochure for a basketball program they have.
And told us he would personally scholarship 2 of our boys.
So sweet.
But also, further evidence of how we looked.
We had a wonderful visit with him.
And found out that his son
was actually engaged to a girl that I know in our little town.
It's a small world.
It was a humbling morning for me.
I'm a proud girl.
Appearance means too much to me.
Thank you, Lord, for teaching me little lessons.
In the middle of a Burger King.
with some info on our Saturdays.)
Most Saturdays are spent at the soccer fields.
With 3 kids playing and one those kiddos reffing also,
we are there all day.
(Brookelynn will ref games before or after her own game.)
So we usually are leaving the house no later than 8am.
And getting home between 5 and 6:30.
The soccer fields are about 35 minutes from our house.
With gas prices the way they are,
once we leave home,
we don't come back until we are all done.
It gets a little old.
And the boys might complain a bit.
But she's earning some money.
So it's worth it.
I guess.
Which brings me to our little story:
This weekend was our last weekend for the fall season.
Brookelynn reffed a game at 9:00.
Since none of our kids had to play in a game until 12:00,
we had some time to kill.
If it's nice, we typically just hang out there.
But it was cold Saturday morning.
And Ryan needed to get some work done.
So we went to a nearby Burger King
for some coffee, orange juice and free wi-fi.
They also happen to have a play place
that the boys love.
So, there we are.
Sitting at a booth.
With our coffee.
Ryan with his ipad and phone.
Me with my phone.
(I left my book at home.
So was reading one of
Francis Chan's books on my phone.)
Still with our coats on.
(It was cold in there.)
The boys running around the play area.
For nearly 2 hours.
Are you getting a good picture in your head?
We look like...moochers.
And I was feeling a bit conspicuous.
Oh, but it gets better...
The boys, after drinking their oj,
naturally need to visit the restroom.
Often.
Jobe, also naturally, is holding himself.
Every time he heads to the restroom.
After one of those trips for both Ez and Jobe,
Ezra comes out of the restroom without his brother.
Walks to our table and says:
Jobe pooped his pants.
He was in the men's restroom.
So, guess who got to go help the boy?
Not me!
I'm just sitting in the booth thinking:
what are we going to do with those undies?
I sent Jake into the restroom to get the car keys from Ryan.
Went out to the car.
Got a Dillon's sack.
Stuck my head in the restroom door.
Handed the bag to Ryan.
Then went back to the car to drive to the nearby Kmart .
To buy some undies.
When I got back,
Ryan was back in our booth (ha!)
with the Dillon's sack sitting at his feet saying:
What do I do with this?
I handed Jobe a new pair of undies.
Told him to go put them on in the bathroom.
Picked up the plastic bag.
And threw it away.
Jobie comes out of the restroom.
Happy about his new dino undies.
And goes back to playing.
While I just look at Ryan,
put my head in my hands and say:
I feel so redneck.
A bit later, a gentleman,
who had been sitting alone nearby,
came over to our table
and introduced himself as a pastor of a local baptist church.
He gave us a brochure for a basketball program they have.
And told us he would personally scholarship 2 of our boys.
So sweet.
But also, further evidence of how we looked.
We had a wonderful visit with him.
And found out that his son
was actually engaged to a girl that I know in our little town.
It's a small world.
It was a humbling morning for me.
I'm a proud girl.
Appearance means too much to me.
Thank you, Lord, for teaching me little lessons.
In the middle of a Burger King.
October 26, 2012
Happenings
A week goes by fast.
Still waiting for my sub license.
The checks have all cleared.
So they liked my money anyway.
Jobe was sick Wednesday and Thursday.
He actually wanted to go to school
And I actually wanted him to go to school yesterday.
Already not used to having kiddos at home during the day.
That didn't take long.
Thursday was superhero day for the older kids.
As is typical, I had to force Jake to pose for the camera.
His friends...not so much.
They are both hams.
Super Jayhawk, Auqa Man and Newton Knight Bat.
The girls got into it too.
When I asked my niece what her superhero name was,
she said: Woman, Woman.
Ok, then.
She and Brookie make me laugh.
All the time.
Brookelynn is, obviously, Batgirl.
You also might be wondering
why there are so many kiddos at my house.
Before school.
Well, we double the number of children in our house
every school day morning.
Two of Jake's friends.
My niece.
And one of Ezra's friends.
Crazy, huh?
And lately, somehow,
we've even had time to do stuff like this in the morning.
Candyland with Daddy.
And reading books.
Captain Underpants is a favorite right now.
I don't understand the appeal.
But he's a boy.
And he's 8.
That's probably enough said.
Plus he looks so cute in his glasses,
I just love it when he reads anything.
Tuesday I let my hair dry naturally.
And then put a little gel in it.
It's got a little wave to it when I do that.
And I thought it looked ok.
I was waiting outside of the school.
With 5,000 other parents.
At the end of the school day.
When Ezra walked out, he said
(in a not so quiet voice):
Mom, what is up with your hair?
Hmmm.
How did I respond to that?
I ignored it.
And then, did the same thing again Thursday.
Just for fun.
And then, didn't comb my hair this morning
before taking him to school.
(He always wants me to walk him to his classroom door.)
He didn't even notice.
So here's what I've learned.
Bed head is acceptable.
Naturally dried, gelled hair is not.
Well, according an 8 year old boy
whose favorite book series is about a
tighty-whitey and red cape wearing boy anyway.
And that would be precisely why
I still pick his clothes out every morning.
Still waiting for my sub license.
The checks have all cleared.
So they liked my money anyway.
Jobe was sick Wednesday and Thursday.
He actually wanted to go to school
And I actually wanted him to go to school yesterday.
Already not used to having kiddos at home during the day.
That didn't take long.
Thursday was superhero day for the older kids.
His friends...not so much.
They are both hams.
The girls got into it too.
she said: Woman, Woman.
Ok, then.
She and Brookie make me laugh.
All the time.
Brookelynn is, obviously, Batgirl.
You also might be wondering
why there are so many kiddos at my house.
Before school.
Well, we double the number of children in our house
every school day morning.
Two of Jake's friends.
My niece.
And one of Ezra's friends.
Crazy, huh?
And lately, somehow,
we've even had time to do stuff like this in the morning.
Captain Underpants is a favorite right now.
I don't understand the appeal.
But he's a boy.
And he's 8.
That's probably enough said.
Plus he looks so cute in his glasses,
I just love it when he reads anything.
Tuesday I let my hair dry naturally.
And then put a little gel in it.
It's got a little wave to it when I do that.
And I thought it looked ok.
I was waiting outside of the school.
With 5,000 other parents.
At the end of the school day.
When Ezra walked out, he said
(in a not so quiet voice):
Mom, what is up with your hair?
Hmmm.
How did I respond to that?
I ignored it.
And then, did the same thing again Thursday.
Just for fun.
And then, didn't comb my hair this morning
before taking him to school.
(He always wants me to walk him to his classroom door.)
He didn't even notice.
So here's what I've learned.
Bed head is acceptable.
Naturally dried, gelled hair is not.
Well, according an 8 year old boy
whose favorite book series is about a
tighty-whitey and red cape wearing boy anyway.
And that would be precisely why
I still pick his clothes out every morning.
October 19, 2012
Ez
God's spent a lot of time counting this boy's hair.
Yesterday was haircut day.
For all of my kids.But I always miss Ezzie's hair the most after a cut.
Matthew 10:30
And even the very hairs of your head
And even the very hairs of your head
are all numbered.
And his hair.
Even more than I do.
Typically, I would link this up with Beki's Fingerprint Friday. But after 5 years of hosting and an increasingly busy life (we all know how that is) she has decided to end her Fingerprint Friday run. Just want to thank you, Beki, for encouraging us to look for God's fingerprints in the little, everyday things of life. It's been a blessing.
October 17, 2012
Chatty, No Chatty
I've been sick.
Yuck.
Not stomach sick, thankfully.
Fever.
Yesterday was the first day
I've felt good for quite a while.
Ryan called over lunch.
And I talked and talked and talked.
I think I haven't used enough of my words lately.
I've got days to catch up on.
Lucky man.
I made cookies while the kids were at school.
And the whole time my mind was going 900 mph.
Being out of it for a bit (no comments necessary, thank you)
makes you appreciate being able to think again.
I was giddy over using my new spreader.
It was so much easier to get the peanut butter out of the jar.
We are supposed to recycle our peanut butter jars.
We are also supposed to rinse our jars out first.
Peanut butter does not rinse.
I just throw the jar away.
Shhh.
It's always more fun to cook with cute shoes.
I got this at the Alamo gift shop this summer.
A gift for me!
From me!
It's so much cheaper than the grocery store.
So excited every time I use it.
I'm a baking/cooking nerd.
I made no bake cookies.
Then, I was reading a friend's blog this morning
and she had just made them too.
(Great minds think alike, Carmen.
But my recipe is slightly different from yours.
And I don't serve them on pretty tea plates.
We just peel them right off the waxed paper.
Cuz we're classy.)
Yuck.
Not stomach sick, thankfully.
Fever.
Yesterday was the first day
I've felt good for quite a while.
Ryan called over lunch.
And I talked and talked and talked.
I think I haven't used enough of my words lately.
I've got days to catch up on.
Lucky man.
I made cookies while the kids were at school.
And the whole time my mind was going 900 mph.
Being out of it for a bit (no comments necessary, thank you)
makes you appreciate being able to think again.
I was giddy over using my new spreader.
It's the simple things for me...
My hubby brought it home the other day.
I've always wanted one.
So exciting.It was so much easier to get the peanut butter out of the jar.
We are supposed to recycle our peanut butter jars.
We are also supposed to rinse our jars out first.
Peanut butter does not rinse.
I just throw the jar away.
Shhh.
It's always more fun to cook with cute shoes.
I was also giddy about my vanilla.
A gift for me!
From me!
It's so much cheaper than the grocery store.
So excited every time I use it.
I'm a baking/cooking nerd.
I made no bake cookies.
Then, I was reading a friend's blog this morning
and she had just made them too.
(Great minds think alike, Carmen.
But my recipe is slightly different from yours.
And I don't serve them on pretty tea plates.
We just peel them right off the waxed paper.
Cuz we're classy.)
Didn't know it had been so long
since I had last made them.
When the kiddos got home from school,
they all cheered.
Yea me!
So, I've been chatty.
The girl, no chatty.
The kids are all off school the rest of this week.
My daughter woke up in a lovely mood.
Teenager.
Heavy sighing.
While walking around the house.
Sighing.
Laying down on the couch.
Sighing.
Walking around the house.
Sighing.
Sitting at the bar in the kitchen.
Sighing.
Never talking.
Acting bored with life.
I ignored her.
Sent Ryan a text.
About HIS daughter.
Made pancakes.
Sang.
Hummed.
Said weird things.
All to annoy her more.
My mom rocks!
I'm pretty sure that's what she was thinking.
Then.
Just like that.
She was fine.
Started playing games with the boys.
Talking to me.
All happy, happy.
Teenager.
I am never moody.
Sheesh.
October 12, 2012
Third Time
Is, apparently, really the charm.
I'm sure you've been wondering all week.
Just dying for an update on the fingerprint saga.
Because what else could you possibly have on your mind?
Other than worrying about my life?
So.
I, once again, put it off for a bit.
I'm phenomenal at doing that.
But I had great reasons.
Kinda'.
Monday, Ryan was off.
With the kiddos in school all day now,
we had a whole day to ourselves.
It was lovely.
I couldn't ruin that day with fingerprint taking.
Tuesday, no idea why I didn't go in.
I can't remember why.
I'm sure I was busy doing something important.
The kids were out of clean undies or something.
Wednesday morning,
I decided to follow Mr. Master Controller's directions.
I called.
Mr. MC: Detention Center.
Me: When would be a good time
to come in to get my fingerprints done?
Mr. MC: Well...hmm...
(big suck in of air
and mumbling of something incoherent)
If you could come in the next 20 minutes
we could probably get you in.
Otherwise the rest of the day is pretty hit and miss.
Me: I can be there in 10 minutes.
Mr. MC (actually sounding somewhat pleasant): Ok. Come on in.
Knowing I'm not looking near as put together today,
I ran to my bedroom to at least change out of my slippers,
threw my hair in to a pony
and off I went.
Naturally, I got caught by a train.
Fortunately, it wasn't one of those pokey ones.
Thank you, Mr. Engineer.
After a short wait,
a female officer takes me back.
Into the jail, I guess.
There's a whole lot of metal doors.
That are kind of that mint green/gray color.
And lots of glass windows.
And men walking around in orange jump suits.
Hello.
(Could have warned me about that one, Beth.)
I tried to avoid making eye contact.
And pretended like they weren't staring.
Shiver.
I'm so silly.
I was thinking I'd come out with black ink on my fingers.
Ummm, Gina.
You do know you're living in the 21st century, right?
It's a little thing called technology.
That, turns out, really isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Considering the system didn't like me.
And they had to scan ALL of my fingers 3 times.
As the guys in the orange jumpsuits continued to stare.
Fun.
Then, to top it off,
I had to pay $15 dollars for this service.
Should have known...
In honor of all the fun I've had,
I took a mugshot of myself.
Ha!
Now I am a pro at this detention center stuff.
But here's to hoping I never have to draw on my expertise again.
I'm sure you've been wondering all week.
Just dying for an update on the fingerprint saga.
Because what else could you possibly have on your mind?
Other than worrying about my life?
So.
I, once again, put it off for a bit.
I'm phenomenal at doing that.
But I had great reasons.
Kinda'.
Monday, Ryan was off.
With the kiddos in school all day now,
we had a whole day to ourselves.
It was lovely.
I couldn't ruin that day with fingerprint taking.
Tuesday, no idea why I didn't go in.
I can't remember why.
I'm sure I was busy doing something important.
The kids were out of clean undies or something.
Wednesday morning,
I decided to follow Mr. Master Controller's directions.
I called.
Mr. MC: Detention Center.
Me: When would be a good time
to come in to get my fingerprints done?
Mr. MC: Well...hmm...
(big suck in of air
and mumbling of something incoherent)
If you could come in the next 20 minutes
we could probably get you in.
Otherwise the rest of the day is pretty hit and miss.
Me: I can be there in 10 minutes.
Mr. MC (actually sounding somewhat pleasant): Ok. Come on in.
Knowing I'm not looking near as put together today,
I ran to my bedroom to at least change out of my slippers,
threw my hair in to a pony
and off I went.
Naturally, I got caught by a train.
Fortunately, it wasn't one of those pokey ones.
Thank you, Mr. Engineer.
After a short wait,
a female officer takes me back.
Into the jail, I guess.
There's a whole lot of metal doors.
That are kind of that mint green/gray color.
And lots of glass windows.
And men walking around in orange jump suits.
Hello.
(Could have warned me about that one, Beth.)
I tried to avoid making eye contact.
And pretended like they weren't staring.
Shiver.
I'm so silly.
I was thinking I'd come out with black ink on my fingers.
Ummm, Gina.
You do know you're living in the 21st century, right?
It's a little thing called technology.
That, turns out, really isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Considering the system didn't like me.
And they had to scan ALL of my fingers 3 times.
As the guys in the orange jumpsuits continued to stare.
Fun.
Then, to top it off,
I had to pay $15 dollars for this service.
Should have known...
In honor of all the fun I've had,
I took a mugshot of myself.
Ha!
But here's to hoping I never have to draw on my expertise again.
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