Thought it was about time I caught everyone up on our busy lives. LTC was a few weekends ago so here are some Alyssa pictures from that. She did Bible Quiz, puppets (that's her puppet in the picture), and chorus. Long weekend and very cold but it was worth it.



And Andrew is playing T-ball now. We are suppose to have one game on Tuesdays, one on Saturdays and practice once a week but we keep getting thunderstorms on Tuesdays so now we have LOTS of makeup games to squeeze in. He is a natural at the game though and really loves it. I think we may have found his sport. The coach likes to put him at first since he can catch the ball when his team throw it and keeps his foot on the base.



Our school's talent show was a few weeks ago and both the kids were in it. Alyssa and a friend sang the last song from High School Musical and Andrew was in a hip-hop group. Very cute. They both did great and, in fact, were the last two acts of the show for the "big finale". On the last chorus of Alyssa's song, all the kids got on the stage and sang along. This was the first year for this and I think we are definately doing it again. I bought two copies of the show so I'll send one to mom so everyone up there can enjoy it.


Actually, the main reason I haven't been adding pictures to my blog is that I just now got around to figuring out how to download them from my new camera. I know, the camera is a few months old but better late than never. Really, I just ran out of memory card and didn't have a choice. So now you will get to see lots of my kids.


Alyssa just finished the school musical today so I will post those as soon as I get them on the computer. She didn't have a speaking part but had a few solos and did a GREAT job.

Soccer game last week, including sunburn:

Soccer game this week:

Welcome to Texas weather. BBBRRRRR!

IT'S SPRING BREAK!!!! 9 days of freedom!

Maybe I'll get out of my pajamas before noon each day.
Maybe I'll brush my hair before Wednesday.
Maybe I'll pick up one part of one room.
Maybe I'll put on a tinnnnny bit of makeup.
Maybe I'll do something productive.
Maybe I'll let the kids do something fun.
Maybe I'll make it to one soccer practice and cheer.
Maybe I'll pick up the phone if someone calls.
Maybe I'll do more with my day then read, watch mindless TV, and nap.
Maybe I'll wash a dish.
Maybe I'll even cook a meal.
Maybe I'll make my bed on two out of the nine days.
Maybe I'll wash a sock or two.
Maybe I'll feed the cat (okay, he follows me around looking sad if I don't so I guess I have to do that)
Maybe I'll feed the kids. (see above reasoning)
Maybe I'll enjoy my long-deserved break!
Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. It's my break and I'll do what I want. So there.

I want to play too.....

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? not that I know of
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Ummmmm????? Weeks and weeks ago.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? yes-- until I see someone else's, then I like theirs better
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? not my favorite but if I have to choose, then ham sliced THIN
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Yes!!
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Definately
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Noooooooo! :)
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? only if I totally lost my mind and forgot that that is CRAZY!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? healthy: wheaties, yummy: cocoa puffs
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? do they untie?
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? no
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? tin roof sunday
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? smile (or lack thereof)
15. RED OR PINK? red!
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? my profile
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? my family-they live way too far away
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING ? blue jeans and brown boots
20 WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? nachos at our school's talent show tonight
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? my husband watching Grey's Anatomy, my son's action figures "fighting" and my daughter singing to herself
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? red
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? fresh, clean babies, outside after the rain, fresh cut grass, vanilla
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE ? a friend from work
25.PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? shhh--I stole it from my sister-in-law
26. HAIR COLOR? nice and easy #118A (or brown, if you want to be boring)
27. EYE COLOUR? blue
28. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? yes
29. FAVORITE FOOD? seafood
30.SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? happy ending, of course
31. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? How to lose a guy in 10 days on TV last week (becoming my favorite movie!)
32. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? pink fuzzy sweater
33. SUMMER OR WINTER . what about spring?
34. HUGS OR Kisses? hugs
35. FAVORITE DESSERT? chocolate anything
38. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? something mindless that is taking too long and a new book called "How am I smart" about intelligence in kids
39. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? cat fur
40. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST? channel surfed for a while
41. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SOUND? kids laughing, acappella singing of "The Lord Bless You and Keep You"
42. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? beatles!
43. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Saudi Arabia when I was little
44. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Ummmm??? no???
45. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Renton, WA

A New Me (Sort of)

Guess what?! I cut my hair off!!! I went in last week for a "trim" and just mentioned that the front was getting a bit heavy so my hair lady says, "Oh, let's texturize it." "Um. Okay.", I say as large chunks of hair start falling on the floor. This is the shortest that I've ever had my hair! She styled it too and Andrew's response was, "You look funny. It's puffy." Not a good confidence builder there. I get home and my dear loving husband's response was, "Well, it doesn't look too 80's." Humft.

It has taken me awhile to figure out what to do with it and whether or not I even like it but I think that I do. I have heard from more than one person that it is "sassy" (whatever that is suppose to mean). But I do like it now. For those of you who know me, I've got this great fear of being one of those women who get stuck with the same hairstyle that they had in high school. That's not me now! I feel so stylish. If I can ever get someone to take a picture of me, I'll let you see it.

Ok. Not liking this new "have to change" blogger thing. Why can't everyone just leave things alone!

Oh where, oh where, has my little frog gone?

What is this world coming to?!? I came home on Friday to find out that someone had taken my frog/mirror globe from my front porch. I loved my frog! He would make me smile every time I came home. Blake's feeling is "who would want it" but for those of you who have seen it, you know. He makes people smile. And I've never seen another one like him (especially one that was clearanced for $3.00) Maybe he'll still come home. I know he misses me. (P.S. My frog was soooo much cuter than this one!)

Helllloooooooo!

So, has everyone given up on me yet? We are still alive and kicking down here. Between work and cheer and scouts and basketball and LTC and homework and Bible Quiz and more work, life has been very busy! You can usually find us home on Thursday nights between 6:15 and 6:20 if anyone wants to call. (So don't tell, but I'm blogging at work right now....I promise I'll work extra hard this afternoon). Then to top everything off, the kids got sick last weekend and are just now getting back into the swing of things. Turns out they had the flu. Good thing we all got those flu shots. At least Blake and I didn't get it so we could just take care of the kids. I don't know about anywhere else, but they are closing schools down here since so many kids are out sick. We had some classes at almost half out. Okay, blogging at work is not WORKING! I keep getting interrupted and this is taking way too long so I guess I'll have to try again later. Imagine...people thinking I should work at work.

Christmas Break

18 days of no school and no work. What is a girl to do?!?! Today I went to Sharla's and watched her kids while she had another proceedure. They were home by 12 which was a good thing since I had just started going through the cabinets in search of food for the kids. Aunt Michelle was having a brain freeze on what to feed an 18 month-old.

Sunday afternoon our family decided to fight the crowds and go to Toys R Us, just for the fun of it. Shelves were empty and aisles were full. We didn't buy a thing so it wasn't too bad since we didn't have to stand in line. Well, right next door to Toys R Us is a pet store. We decided to go in and let the kids look around since I needed gerbil food anyway. Who knew that it was pet adoption day? So guess what? I got a Christmas present! Isn't he cute. He is an older persian cat who was rescued and up for adoption. They were calling him Harvey but I don't think he looks like a Harvey. So for now, he is just kitty. Kitty is of the less active variety (which is what we wanted) and is very loving. I don't know if it is the breed but he doesn't meow. He kinda snorts instead. Very cute but he really needs a name if anyone has any ideas.

Want to see what you have been missing? This was taken on Saturday by one of her friends from church who had a camera phone. I told her I was going to post it and she said that was okay. Of course that may have been the morphine talking. Hopefully she will be home tomorrow. Then mom's work will really begin.

This song gets stuck in my head ALL THE TIME and has been running between my ears for the last 30 minutes. I absolutely love the words but I'd really like to hum something else now. Maybe posting it would help.


Listen to Our Hearts

How do you explain, how do you describe
A love that goes from east to west, and runs as deep as it is wide.
You know all our hopes, Lord, You know all our fears.
And words cannot express the love we feel but we long for You to hear.

Chorus:
So listen to our hearts, (O, Lord please listen)
hear our spirits sing (and hear us sing)
A song of praise that flows (a simple song of praise)
from those You have redeemed. (from those You have redeemed)
We will use the words we know to tell
You what an awesome God You are.
But words are not enough to tell You of our love,
so listen to our hearts.

If words could fall like rain from these lips of mine,
And if I had a thousand years, Lord, I would still run out of time.
If You listen to my heart, ev'ry beat will say:
"Thank You for the Life, Thank You for the Truth, Thank You for the Way."


Words and Music: Geoff Moore & Steven Curtis Chapman
©Peach Hill Songs

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Cooking, cooking, and more cooking. But I love it.

Said in the car driving back from Alyssa's volleyball game tonight.....

Alyssa: I'm trying to remember the motto for our team.

Andrew: Is it "peanut"?

Don't ask me how the mind of a 5 year old works. But we had a good laugh about it.

We are officially a "sports family" after this weekend. Andrew still is doing soccer every Saturday for the next few weeks. We are still working on teaching him to kick the ball down the field instead of just dribbling so close to his feet that it looks alot like dragging the ball. He informed me that if he kicks it too hard, the other team might get it. So instead they just keep kicking at his shins until they can get it away from him. Our team is getting alot better though. Still alot of fun to watch. We will sign him up for basketball next month. Now that will be interesting.

Alyssa had her first volleyball match on Friday night. They do a practice during the hour before the game, rotating between different coaches. She was a little lost at first and held on to her friend from school but by the time the game rolled around, she felt alot more comfortable. When it was game time, we still hadn't met everyone who was suppose to be on our team or even the coach. So the parents kinda figured out who was suppose to be there and then we waited, and waited, and waited for the coach to start. Problem: no coach. Come to find out he just never showed up and no one had a number to get ahold of him. Poor girls. Most had never played organized volleyball before and so they weren't sure what to do. So lucky Blake stepped up and ending up coaching for both games. Of course what he knows about the game could fit into a thimble but he did a good job anyway. I think the girls actually enjoyed it. Once a coach, always a coach apparently. He may end up doing it for the entire season. Of course now Andrew is wanting daddy to coach one of his teams.

Plus

Equals

It's good to be home

Our trip in five simple pictures.

Quick picture post since this has been a very hectic week and next week doesn't look much better. (even though I am looking forward to leaving town on Friday!) I get to post pictures of my children with butterflies too. We had a great visit with mom and dad. Hopefully next time they can stay longer....how does two weeks sound??






The one of Andrew is from the Bubble Festival in Kindergarten. In case you can't tell, he is standing inside a giant bubble.





















Outdoor soccer season has started so we will be sitting out in the sun for the next few weeks cheering on a bunch of sweaty boys. My camera was too slow taking the picture of Andrew getting to throw the ball in bounds but I liked the color of the picture anyway.

Blah

Okay, which is worse.... to be sick and have to miss a day of work or to be sick and have to miss a holiday?!? I managed to pick up some sort of stomach bug yesterday and have spent all day lying on the couch. All my great plans for today went right down the tubes. No yearly "girls day" with Alyssa, no errands run, no house dusted, no dinner with Sharla. Blah. But at least I'm feeling better now. Just in time to go to work tomorrow. Something is definitely wrong with this picture. On a brighter note: it did rain ALL day (starting at about 6 this morning...and yes, I was up then).

Well, it's the third week of school and I'm just now beginning to feel ready to start the year. My work computer is still acting up but my "to do" pile is no longer touching the ceiling. I even feel like I have a handle on the accounting part of After School Care. (For those of you who don't know, accounting was the only course in school that drove me insane. To survive the two semesters of classes, all I had to do was take what I thought was the correct way to do the problems and do the exact opposite. Can you say right-brained??) Of course Friday I was told that due to other factors like outrageous electric bills, they are cutting my budget. Like I'm not stressed enough about this. I had it where the program was breaking even and even bringing in a couple hundred extra dollars a month so it should be fine but it was nice to have a big cushion if I needed it. I liked being under budget with a surplus.

On the home front: still no kitty. We finally put away his food dish. It was pretty sad just sitting there in the kitchen for three weeks, empty and unused. Now Blake has been talking about getting a dog. Just a small one. I'm not ready for that yet. Dogs require a lot more work than a cat. I'm still on the lookout for free kittens. I really want an orange one. Though it is nice not to have to take care of any animals right now. (Gerbils don't count. They just play in their cage all day and chew on stuff.)

All right, I'm having trouble making a coherent sentence. I think it's time for bed. I'll say a quick prayer of thanks for the rain today and say goodnight.