Top ten picture blog party

Jules at The Roost is hosting a New Year's Eve blog picture party.

It was so hard trying to sort through so many pictures and really hard trying to narrow it down to just 10.

Anyway, stop by her site for all of the details!

Happy New Year's Eve!

Time for a game of charades

Last night after dinner the boys decided it was time to play karate or kick wrestle or what ever they call it.

It's basically them running at one another and trying to kick the other one in some sort of karate maneuver. It's a high energy game that makes me tired just watching.

Anyway, I had a headache and had already taken half the bottle of Advil but it hadn't kicked in and the boys were to loud for my ringing head.

So Hubs laid down the law.

He said no running, kicking, screaming, yelling, no physical contact, no pretend physical contact, don't even think about having any contact.

At this point R8 looks at R3 and says....Hey R3 do you want to play charades?

We all just cracked up laughing.

Pam-maw

She is Hubs' grandmother.

She got her name from my nephew who couldn't say Naina, it came out Pam-Maw and it stuck.

We live right around the corner from her. R8 rides his bike to her house just to say hi and to see if his cousin E is home.

You see Pam-Maw lives with Hubs' Aunt D, Uncle M, and cousin E. They added on to their house several years ago when she fell and broke her hip.

I love that we live so close. We stop by when ever we want and we always go over on Sundays after Church and lunch.

She loves the boys. She lets them do just about anything they want when the go over to see her. She always has cookies or crackers and a never ending supply of Sunkist.

When Hubs and I first started dating we used to go over to her house every Wednesday night and go out to dinner. Then we would go back to her house and watch TV or play cards or just talk.

I loved hearing stories about her life. I loved hearing how Hubs and his sister were her favorites. Although she would never admit to having a favorite grand child, she did.

I would listen for hours about how she and Papa Jack barely had anything starting out. They even had asked her parents to borrow money to put down on a house.

She and Papa raised three children. And those children grew and had children of their own. And now those grandchildren have children.

As my sister in law says she is the matriarch of the family. She has so much love for all of us.

The boys and I love her an infinite amount.

I said yesterday my heart was aching and it still is today.

Saturday afternoon Pam-Maw had a stroke.

Things do not look good right now. I have received so much information about her condition the words continually swirl around in my head. Hanging there waiting to be processed.

I don't want to absorb any information. I don't want to think about what lies ahead. I also know I need to.

Right now I am being selfish. Want her here. I want my boys to continue to go to her house. To walk in and say hey Pam-Maw it's just us.

I want to call her on the phone and hear her voice. That is also something I might not hear again, her sweet voice. I am not ready for that.

My heart is full of love for her.

I am being selfish.

I want the boys to remember her. To remember how she would always come to their rescue if they were acting up at her house and Hubs and I had to get on to them. Or how she would let them give her countless rides up and down on her lift chair. How she never got tired of all the kisses and hugs the boys would lavish on her. She would just soak it up and say they were the best kisses and hugs.

While I am being selfish, I also know this is God's plan and I have to trust in him. Even her ICU nurse said God is in control.

So even thought I am turning my fears over to God. Even though I still want to be selfish, I am trusting in the Lord.

I pray he holds Pam-Maw close to his side and gives her and us the comfort and strength we need.

Merry after Christmas

I hope everyone had a terrific Christmas.

Ours was simply wonderful. I have never seen wrapping paper fly so fast off presents as I did that morning. Nor have I seen smiles so big.

But today my heart is aching. I can't seem to get the swirl of words running around in my head into a cohesive thought. I need time to process them.

So I am leaving you with a few pictures of Christmas morning.

A Savior is born

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas, y'all, Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Yup, I'm still on bacation.

Just had to post some pictures of this past weekend.

We had the best time at my parents house and then at SIL's the next night for our family Christmas.

R8 got so much stuff that I don't know if Santa will have anything left to bring. But the highlight of the weekend was when R3 received his beloved John Deer tractor and trailer.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your families. I pray we all pause to remember the birth of Jesus, for He is the reason we truly celebrate.

Merry Christmas y'all!

I'm on bacation

That's right, I'm on baaaacation!!

For as long as I can remember we have always called it bacation instead of vacation.

I think my brother could never say it right and it just stuck.

When ever my dad, brother or I go on vacation we always call the other two and tell them we are on baaacation.

I haven't taken a full week off at Christmas time since I started working for my company six years ago. R8 made the comment a while ago that Hubs is always the one off with him and he wanted me to be off too.

And after I thought about it he was right. So I took his request to heart and now I am on baaacation.

So my posting might be a little sporadic this week. I want to try and spend as much time with my family as I possibly can. But who knows I say this and watch, I will have a post up everyday.

Have a great week and I will be back for sure with a post for Christmas.

Family Christmas

I am already tired from the weekend and it is only Friday!

We have a very busy weekend ahead of us. Non stop excitement is the plan.

Tonight we are officially kicking off the Christmas season in our house by finally putting up our tree. We are having pizza for dinner and turning up the Christmas carols so the fun can begin.

I know secretly Hubs is kinda grateful we are just now getting back in our house. He doesn't have to put all the lights up outside.

Saturday we are traveling to Houston to spend the day with my family and have Christmas with them.

My dad loves to have a big meal before the ripping of the wrapping paper commences. Then if he doses off while the kids are playing with their new toys he feels he hasn't missed a thing.

Sunday we are traveling to my SIL's house for Christmas with Hubs' side of the family.

I love going over there for Christmas. We always have a multitude of chips and salsa. She and I reserve an entire bowl of black olives just for us. Sorry family. We. Don't. Share. Our. Olives.

All the while BIL is playing bar tender and getting us so happy and mellow, we don't care the kids are screaming to open gifts.

So after SIL and I sink into her sofa, the kids play for the rest of the afternoon with their new loot.

And maybe just maybe she and I might break out with a song about being reunited and it feels so good.

Maybe.

The Pledge of Allegiance

This is R3's first year to attend pre-school.

At first I was worried he might be to young but he loves it and is doing great.

He is learning so many new things.

Last night he blurted out the Pledge of Allegiance

Here is his version...

I pledge allegiance to my flag of the United States of America, and to Rebublic for which it stands: one Nation for God, indavisible, With Libertay and Justice forall.

It was so cute to listen to him. I called my mother in law and let him recite this for her. She said it brought back sweet memories of Hubs when he was just barely 3 going with his grand-daddy every day for a walk and stopping at the fire station so he could recite to the firemen The Pledge.

The other cute part was when Hubs asked him where his hand goes when we say The Pledge of Allegiance, R3 said over your heart. And then put his hand over his throat.

Hubs corrected him and showed him where his hand should go.

Once I find my video recorder I am going to get R3 to recite it for me.

I know Grand-daddy is smiling down from Heaven feeling proud.

Movin' on up

To that deluxe apartment in the sky.

Not really because we are not George and Weezie.

But we are moving, around the corner and down the street. Back into our house. Well actually we moved back already.

I can't not begin to even explain how wonderful it feels to be back home. There is no place like home. I am even more thrilled to be back before Christmas.

We are putting up our tree and stockings. And I hate to say it but everything else will just stay packed away till next year.

Hubs and I are very thankful for our dear friends J & S. They have been so sweet to open their home and let us stay with them. All four of us.

I know we all had our doubts that we would make it out of this with our friendship intact. And while we all had our moments, we did it.

I also know with all my heart that if the roles had been reversed, I would have done the exact same thing for them never giving it a second thought.

S had told me numerous times, She and J haven't done anything spectacular or note worthy, but in my eyes they have.

It's hard to merge families together when each person has their own personalities and a different way of doing things. But we did it.

So again, Thank you J & S , to you and your family.

I love you, my family loves you and God bless you!

Almost done

I am almost done Christmas shopping.

The boys are done, thankfully. I have few small gifts to get and most of those are gift cards.

You have no idea how this was stressing me out, not even having one gift bought. The top of my closet now looks like it could all come down at any minute.

But I am feeling better and ready for a marathon wrapping session.

R8 asked for the usual, Nintendo DS games but he completely shocked me when he asked for books.

I couldn't get them fast enough. So he will be the proud owner of the Magic Tree House series on Christmas day.

R3 has told me he wants Geo Trax besides his beloved John Deer Tractor. Good because Santa took his request to heart and he is going to receive a ton of them.

Hubs has asked for a flat screen monitor for his computer and I have had some lengthy conversations with Santa. But since he reads this little blog-o-mine, I can't reveal anything.

As for me, I wanted was to be back in my house and I am getting that wish.

What do all of you want for Christmas?

Carpet and bare feet

Today is carpet day!

Y-Y-Y-I-I-I-P-P-P-P-P-P-Y-Y-Y-!-!-!

Can you tell I am just a little excited.

And I know it's a lame excuse but if I could figure out where I put my camera, I would take pictures of the crew installing the new carpet. But my camera has eluded me since it snowed.

And because I really didn't want to lay down in the wet snow the other day to make a snow angel, maybe I will make a carpet angel.

Hmmm, maybe not.

Christmas tour of homes, don't forget

Hey y'all don't forget about Boo Mama's Christmas tour of homes on Monday.

Check out her blog for more information.

Now get those cameras ready because you have no excuse since you have the weekend to take pictures.

And because I don't have much else.

Have a great weekend!

Let it snow let it snow let it snow

***UPDATE***

IT SNOWED!!!! I can't believe it but it did! We got a total of 4-6 inches. Check out the pictures.

Here is our forecast for today/last night.

...A BLAST OF WINTER COMES TO SOUTHEAST TEXAS...

A COLD AFTERNOON IS ON TAP WITH LITTLE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURES EXPECTED. AT 11 AM TEMPERATURES WERE RUNNING 34 TO 39 DEGREES ACROSS THE REGION. NORTHWEST WINDS OF 10 TO 20 MPH...STRONGER NEAR THE COAST WILL MAKE TEMPERATURES FEEL LIKE 25 TO 37 MOST OF THE AFTERNOON. THE WINDS OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS SHOULD BEGIN TO RELAX LATE THIS AFTERNOON DIMINISHING TO AROUND 10 MPH INLAND. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING BRINGING THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY LIGHT RAIN CHANGING OVER TO LIGHT SNOW AND OR A MIX OF LIGHT SNOW AND RAIN. THE SNOW SHOULD BE LIGHT AND VERY LITTLE IS EXPECTED TO ACCUMULATE ON ANY SURFACE OTHER THAN IN FIELDS... YARDS...AND ON THE TOPS OF CARS. NO SNOW IS EXPECTED TO COLLECT ON ROADS.

Snow, who would have thought. Just a few months ago it was 327*. (freakin' hot) Now it's freezing.

Don't you just love Mother Nature's sense of humor?

R8 and R3 didn't have their gloves at J & S's house so they are wearing socks on their hands. I was thinking like that is going to keep them warm. It really didn't matter though they both had so much fun!

And just so the few of you who read this, don't think I wasn't out in to. I was the nut out in it at 1AM. And here is the proof. Please remember it is 1AM and I had already washed my face and been in my pj's ready for sleep.

Kissin' up to Grandma

Last week I posted about R3 and his lack of wanting anything for Christmas.

Well all of that has changed.

My MIL and SIL kept the boys for me so Hubs and I could paint.

While they were in the their care, they asked them what they wanted from Santa. R3 tells them he wants a John Deer tractor with a trailer.

SSSCCCRRREEEEEECCCHHH!!!!

Did I hear what I think I just heard. R3 wants presents? They both told me all weekend he kept saying he wanted a tractor and trailer.

On Sunday I decided to ask for myself just to see what his answer would be. And here is how it went down.

Me: R3, what do you want from Santa?

R3: I want a John Deer tractor with a trailer.

Me: Are you sure?

R3: Yes, that is all I want.

Me: What if Santa doesn't bring that.

R3: Then I don't want anything.

Well my MIL and SIL have decided to buy him a John Deer Tractor with a trailer for Christmas. My MIL saw one that is just his size. Thank goodness Christmas would be tragic at our house if we didn't have a John Deer tractor with a trailer.

And here is why they decided to buy him one.

MIL/SIL: R3 what do you want for Christmas?

R3: A John Deer tractor with a trailer

MIL/SIL: What if Santa doesn't bring you that?

R3: Santa can do anything!

Guess he is learing early, if you are nice to Grandma she will buy you just about anything!

My music has been hijacked

I'm not much on reality TV but I got hooked on the past season of American Idol. So much so that toward the end my friend D and I would talk about it every week.

D sent me the new David Archuleta CD that came out a few weeks ago. It hasn't been out of my CD player since.

I know, I took out Travis Cotrell's Ring the Bells.

I have played it over and over. Every song is just so good.

I have played it so much that my kids call him David Enchilada. Not cool kids, not cool. It has now become a game we play. I call him Archuleta and they call him Enchilada.

I have played him so much that R8 is threatening to hold my CD for ransom.

So if you watched American Idol you know how great David sounds. And if you haven't bought the CD, you should.

So how much is to much to pay for a CD that I got for free, which I now love, that my oldest child will more than likely swipe and hold until I pay him?

Street legal again, kinda

Hubs got a ticket the other day.

Not for speeding, that would be me who would get that ticket. He received a ticket for an expired inspection sticker.

It wasn't just recently expired either, it was expired from September 2007.

He was turning left onto another street and the cop was turning left in the opposite direction, so Hubs had to pass right in front of him.

And since the nice small town cop had nothing better to do, he turned around and pulled Hubs over and gave him a little green piece of paper telling him he needs to appear before the judge on or before December 12th.

Now I didn't even tell Hubs "I told you so" or "I have reminded you several times". I just said we would take care of it, meaning "I" would take care of it.

Wednesday, I took his car to a gas station that still has a mechanic on duty and a full service pump and had them inspect Hubs' car.

He nice mechanic took the car drove it around, pulled it in the stall, and did the flashers, and all the other inspection stuff.

Then he tells me my insurance card is expired. Huh? I look and sure enough, it went out in October.

GREAT!

I drive back to work, log on to the insurance company, print out a new card and then drive back to the gas station.

The mechanic then puts the window sticker letting everyone know it now expires 12 of 2009.

So now that Hubs' car is street legal again, I realize I sent in my license plate renewal to the county with the same insurance card. Expired and all.

And just in case I get pulled over, does anyone know if crying still works?

Progress at its finest

Progress is being made at our house. Woo Hoo! I will say it again. Woo Hoo!

The paint is sitting in my garage and the painters will be there next week.

Hubs and I are painting this weekend. We have to paint the hall way and R8's bedroom. Those were the only things not covered by insurance. But that's OK.

The carpet is here and in the warehouse waiting for the installers to put it in and that is scheduled for the 15th.

I have to give a shout out to my contractor who is trying his hardest to make sure we are back in the house for Christmas.

Thank you Mike and to all the workers at Carter & Company!!!!

And thank you to all of my friends, live and in person and the ones on my computer who have listen to ramble endlessly about a stinkin' hurricane named Ike and my house.

Love y'all!!!

My Santa leverage is gone

I picked up R3 from school yesterday and when we got in the car he had a melt down.

I still don't know what caused the melt down but the screaming and yelling at his mama were not on my list of acceptable things to do.

So I told him he needed to stop pitchin' a fit and tell me what he wanted.

His answer was a very sharp NO.

I reminded him that Santa was coming in a few weeks and he needed to be on his best behavior because you never know when he or his elves might show up.

And here is how the conversation went after that.

R3: I don't want any presents!

Me: You don't want presents from Santa?

R3: NO! I don't want anything!

Me: Not even a new bike or a John Deer tractor toy?

R3: NO, Nothing!

Me: OK, I will call Santa and tell him.

R3: F-I-N-E-!-!

So since the Santa threat is gone, I am wondering if his birthday, which is next month, would work as new leverage.

No good behavior, no birthday cake.

I doubt it knowing R3. He would probably just say he wants ice cream.

Hubs the animal killer warrior

As you know we are staying with our friends J and S while our house is being remodeled from Hurricane Ike.

The other night we were all sitting around the table and J comes in and states very calmly to S that there is a possum in the garage.

I jump up wanting to see this furry creature up close and their oldest daughter M come running with me.

We look out the door that leads into the garage but can’t see anything because of the cars. Just about that time Hubs and R8 come in the side door from basketball practice and ask what we are doing.

S and I tell him J is out in the garage trying to kill a possum before it kills their cat.

So Hubs walks out into the garage to check out the situation.

J has got it cornered up against the brick trying to figure out to kill it with the shovel. Hubs ask for the shovel. He walks right up to it and smacks it.

Not once but three times. Just to make sure it is dead. Yes the poor possum met its fate in our friends’ garage that night. J even said something to the effect that Hubs took out the days frustrations on the possum.

Hubs then scooped it onto the shovel and he and his partner in crime walk out to the field behind their house and dump it.

Yup, they dumped the possum right there in the field. The killers then tell us that some other kind of animal will eat the now dead possum.

I don’t know about you but I feel so much safer with Hubs and J around. Never know when we might need their skillz to kill a snake or mouse or even worse an armadillo.

Just kidding Hubs and J, I appreciate all you did, because I sure couldn’t have done it.

My heart is still a little heavy

Yesterday I attended a funeral. I have attended a few funerals in my time but today my heart is still saddened by this one.

Jacob Langston, the son of a former co-worker was killed this past Wednesday.

Jacob was only 17. He was in an accident with an 18 wheeler.

Tammy, his mom, got up and spoke during the service. I don't know how in the world this woman could do this. I would be on the floor in a pile.

While the service was beautiful and filled with a ton of flowers and high school students, the one thought that kept coming to my mind was a parent should not have to bury their child. A parent should never have to go through that.

Please pray for this family. Their road ahead is long. I pray God will give them the peace and comfort they need.

December 1st

I can not believe today is December 1st!

I like to be done Christmas shopping by this time so I can sit back and enjoy the holiday.

But this year, I haven't even started. I need to get on the ball.

I am also still stuffed from Thanksgiving. Which by the way, I hope everyone had a great holiday.

So are any of you done shopping yet? Or do you wait until the last minute? Something about being under pressure to find a present doesn't sit well with me.

Usually everything is bought and I spend the first weekend in December wrapping it all.

So this year if you see me cruising the mall on December 23rd, just point me in the direction of Bath and Body Works.

You can never wrong with great smelly lotions, or body sprays, or bath bubbles, or.....