Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

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I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!  We spent ours mostly at Grandma Rosita’s house, then hung out in the evening at ours.

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What could make for a better day than today?  I can’t think of a single thing.  We had a great Thanksgiving meal with family.  Played a little football in the yard, laughed and had a great time. 

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Later when we were quite full from turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, cauliflower, dressing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, delicious bread, corn casserole, beans- not to mention pumpkin & pecan pies!  Ohhhh- I think my head is spinning!  Maybe if I lay down for just a…little…….nap.

 

zzzzzz…

 

Oh- I’m sorry.  So- maybe we ate  a little too much.  But Thanksgiving only comes around 1 time a year.  We should be able to indulge a little every now and again.

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This evening was so much fun.  Just our little family hanging out.  The Cowboys were on- AND they won!!  We threw the football around a little and watched the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special.  Those things always make me a little nostalgic! 

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I love hanging out with my family- they are all such wonderful people.

Love you guys!

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Here are just a few things I am thankful for:

God’s love!

A loving husband.

A healthy & happy family.

Good friends.

Having freedom.

Our company- and all that implies. (ups & downs)

Extended family.

Being at peace with myself.

Feeling loved & appreciated.

My little house.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Veterans' Day!

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Thank you to all those who serve or have served our country!  We wouldn’t have the freedoms we have – without your sacrifices.

I am so thankful to be in America.  Being an American means I have the opportunity to make my own choices.  Do I want to work, or stay at home with the boys?  I can get in the car and drive anywhere, or stay home with the family.  I can agree, or I can disagree. 

Both my parents and many of my Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, BIL’s are serving or have served our great Nation. 

I am so very Thankful to them.

We have awesome pics of my Dad in Vietnam!  I wish I could post one- but they are in storage.  One day I will do a whole blog on these pictures.  They are just that awesome!

Meanwhile, here is a pic of my wonderful Mom in Iraq. 

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Here she is getting her award for Order of Military Medical Merit.

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Thanks, Mom. 

 

I remember, one evening we were visiting my parents and I was going to drive my Mom to work at the BAMC.  Ian’s expression was priceless when he saw my Mom in full BDU’s!

*Up until now- he just thinks that Grandma Ethel is a nurse at an Army hospital.  I found this out on the ride home.*

Imagine she is coming down the stairs… black boots (super shiny), her “Army Guy” clothes on & hat in hand.  Ian was in awe, but very, very quiet.  He didn’t say a word the whole way the the hospital.  As soon as Mom was out of the car and into the building, Ian turned and looked at me. 

“Mom!  Grandma Ethel is a soldier!”

It was priceless!  He was so excited all the way home.  It really made an impact on him.  He loves everything military:  Military History, WWI, WWII, Military weapons, strategies & the list goes on and on.

He is so proud of her!  They share so many interest and have a great affection for each other.  Two peas in a pod.

I hope you all have a great Veteran’s Day.  Take time to be thankful for all we have.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Carving Pumpkins

We went to Bracken UMC Pumpkin Patch to pick out our pumpkins- and now they are all carved up!

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And just in time too!  Halloween is only 2 days away!

Ian knew just what he wanted.  He googled several pictures and found the perfect one…an alien!

                       He really enjoyed this part!

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He did a great job carving his pumpkin.

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               He did a great job, he was so proud of his pumpkin!

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Cody decided to make it up as he went along.  He decided to draw out his pumpkin by himself.  He also loved the pumpkin “poop”!

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My little south-paw did a great job on his pumpkin face!

We collected the pumpkin seeds and roasted them as well.

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                   Mmmmm Mmmmm Good!

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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Bracken UMC Pumpkin Patch

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October!  Crisp autumn air, fall colors, changing of the leaves & the pumpkin patch!

This year we went to Bracken UMC’s pumpkin patch.  The boys had so much fun picking out their pumpkins.

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There were so many different pumpkins & gourds to choose from.  It was hard to just pick out a couple.

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I think we looked at almost EVERY pumpkin in the patch!

They had some great photo spots set up!

                         We can’t wait to carve up our pumpkins!

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If you get a chance- check out the pumpkin patch at Bracken UMC.  

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Monday, October 12, 2009

Extended Sleep Over with the Girls

A couple of weeks ago, my favorite nieces spent the week with us.  My sister and her hubby went to WestPoint, NY for a 10-year school reunion.  I was pretty nervous to watch the girls…and my boys…all at once.  I have watched them before- but not for such a long time.  Usually it was just Abi by herself.

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I think I was mainly worried about the scheduling of school drop off & pick up, soccer practice & games. There was also the fact that they would miss their parents.  I wasn’t sure how I would handle that.

It wasn’t really that bad.  They are really pretty good girls, and my boys & her girls usually get along very well. 

The boys had one room, and the girls another.  Abi slept in my room.

                                     It worked out great!

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Zoey is my little nature girl.  She spent most of her time outside looking for snails, insects, worms & lizards.   Don’t tell her mom I let her outside even though it rained most of the week. 

When she wasn’t outside playing,she was playing with the guinea pigs.  The girls love them- and the pigs love the girls, too.  They don’t usually get that much attention.

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We even gave them a bath, they love to swim in the tub!

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When the big kids were at school, Abi went to work with me.

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I think I worked her too hard…isn’t she precious?

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John dropped off and picked up the boys from school,

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and I dropped off and picked up the girls.

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It was pretty exciting the day a “tiger” showed up at school!

Lachlan is my little chef!  She loves to cook- so I let her make spaghetti and meatballs, salad & strawberry shortcakes.

The boys enjoyed having the girls around.  They had a great time playing games together.  Even Unkie John got in a little play time. 

Ahhh- the joys of a nerf gun!  I think I went a little deaf with the high pitch squeals (and not just from the girls).   Unkie John chased everyone around & around with a nerf gun “shooting” them.  They loved it!  After the first go around- Abi kept trying to get him to do it again and again!  Then she wanted to shoot him back- and of course he let her.  He even re-loaded her gun for her.

The girls did miss their parents of course…I did too!  I thought it would be fun for them to draw pictures and make cards for them.  They really love to craft.  What can I say- it runs in the family.

Lachlan saw our “Boo Boo Bunny” and wanted to make one.  Everyone had an awesome time creating their bunnies!  They all had distinct personalities…just like the kids.

Later Lachlan actually had a little “boo boo” and got to use her bunny.  She wants me to see if they have cats, dogs, turtles or unicorns.  I am googling it- any suggestions?

After the bunnies were made and left to dry, the girls (and Cody) thought it would be fun to make tiny little pom-pom babies.  And of course there was a little play dough fun too. 

Next time I will have to find more crafts for everyone to do!

Since things were going soooo well.  We thought we would be brave and take everyone to breakfast.  We were up and ready for soccer- but the soccer fields were rained out. 

Las Palapas, here we come…with 5 kids!  They all did so well!  But don’t get me wrong…I am really good with just my 2 boys.  I don’t think I could handle more than that.

All in all a good time was had by everyone!  They all had their moments, but we had a great time together.  John got to understand how girl dynamics worked.  I think he is good with just the 2 boys as well. 

The girls were so happy their parents came back.  Me Too!