Honk if you love Christmas!

Oh my gosh...this town is a ZOO!! I made the mistake of taking the kids to Wal-Mart tonight and it makes me remember why I try to go when they are at school. They were pretty good but it was so crowded that they were stepping on me and once Reid ran over my heels with the cart....OUCH!! I remember doing that to Mom! HA Sorry...I know now that it hurts.....really bad!! Of course, every aisle they wanted something forgetting that X-mas is right around the corner. It's so hard to teach your kids the true meaning of Christmas. They just see presents and that ok because I want them to always believe in HoHo but I also wish that for once when we go to a store that they don't beg for things.....keep dreamin' right??

The traffic is also CRAZY!! I think I got honked at 3 times today. Nothing bad but when you are at a light people don't even give you time to put your foot on the gas before they honk at you to go. PATIENCE PEOPLE... :) It really drives me nuts. I hate the horn..HA Then there are the sweet drivers that will let you in and wave if you let them in as to say Thank you!! :) I love those people! HEE HEE

I am really getting close to being done with all my shopping. It really is fun and I really do love the hustle and bustle but tonight I am tired......kinda like my Mom said...I'm too pooped to pop!
I think the kids will be excited this year. Macy is really understanding it more and is really excited about getting presents from Santa. She wants a dog...or a baby sister.. :) I told her Santa doesn't bring things like that....especially sisters. HA Last year she was excited about the boxes and tissue paper and this year, I have a feeling, will be all about the toys! :) Reid is excited too and of course all his items are a little more grown-up and it makes me sad! This might be his last year to believe and that REALLY makes me sad. My baby is growing up.

Tomorrow is Reid's class party. They are making Gingerbread houses.....that ought to be real messy. He is excited about not having any homework this week and getting to wear his Santa hat to school. He had to have one when we were at Walgreens the other day. (see??....had to have) It looks too cute on him and I'm sure you will all see it soon because he is too excited about wearing it at Nana and Poppi's house on Chirstmas Eve.

Today was Macy's class party. When I picked her up she had green icing ALL over her shirt, face, pants and hair. They made ice cream cone trees. They were too cute but does green icing come out of clothes?? HA... Of course, they were supposed to be decorated with candy but Macy had already eaten all her candy off and her tree was bare....just some of the green icing was all that was left. She also was so proud because she made me a candle holder...very cute. When I opened it she was so eager to see how I was going to react. I think I did everything but do a cartwheel.....I think she wanted a cartwheel. HA

I need to go get some party bags ready for tomorrow.....I hope everyone has a good week and I hope you don't get honked at while you are out shopping!

Nevermind! :)

HELP

Anyone know where I can get a Texas Longhorn Vince Young jersey???? YIKES....how many more shopping days until X-mas??? I'm stressing out!

LOVE

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We did. I love getting to be with family to visit, eat, go walking, and SHOP SHOP SHOP!!! I loved watching Matt, Bubbie, Reid, Troy, Matt and Kyle playing football!! I loved getting to play with, kiss and hold baby Jack. I loved helping in Nana's kitchen.(it gets crowded in there....until dishes time) I loved seeing all the guys (and Kathy... hahaha) taking naps in the living room. I loved sitting on the front porch and visiting with all the girls. I love that my sister and I went on a walk together. I love that Jody is the Underwoods lady. I love that I got to go to the Abilene High game. I love that Bubbie, JD, Troy and I laughed all the way to Waco and back. (how do you remember all those jokes?? HAHA) I love that I got to go with Jenna to see Hollie and Riley. I love holidays at Nana and Poppi's....I love the memories that we make that we will have forever! Can you tell I LOVE my family??!!



I have gotten some of these "Get to know your friends" things and I thought instead of emailing them I would post them...they are fun. I love getting them, Boy, am I in a loving mood tonight!! HA HA HA


Do you wish on stars? sometimes....depends on my mood, I guess.

When did you last cry? yesterday while watching Oprah about girls in Ethiopia....very sad. I can't believe things like that actually go on in other countries.

Do you like your handwriting? I guess...somedays it is better than others

What is your favorite lunch meat? Honey Ham or turkey

When is your birthday? May 20, 1973

What is your favorite ice cream flavor? CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE

Would you ever go bungee jumping? don't know....i'm a little chicken sometimes

What is your favorite cereal? anything that will lower my cholesterol.....I guess Cheerios

Do you untie your shoes before you take them off? yes, i do! :)

Do you think you are strong? I'm not doing Boot Camp for nothin'! HAHA

Shoe Size? 7 It used to be 6 until I had Reid and it went to a size 6 1/2 then I had Macy and it went to a 7!! CAN YOU BELIVE THAT ...no joke

Red or Pink? Pink.

Who do you miss most? my nephews

What color pants and shoes are you wearing? blue jeans, no shoes

Last thing you ate? Jason's Deli...or as Macy calls it...Jason's Jelly

What are you listening to right now? David Letterman talking about Oprah!

If you were a crayon, what color would you be? pink or somedays red...I like blue too....

Who was last person you talked to on the phone? My sissy...I love ya

Favorite Drink? Diet Dr. Pepper or Minute Maid light Mango ...GOOD!!

Favorite Sport? Baseball and football...I guess whatever my boys are watching!

Do you wear contacts? no.....I'm proud to say....20/20 :)

Favorite food? Spaghetti with garlic bread

Last movie you watched? Walk the Line...it was very good! Gotta love Reese Witherspoon

What is your favorite day of the year? I love when it is fall and I can open my windows and feel the cool breeze.....and of course...CHRISTMAS!!!

Scary movies or happy endings? happy endings, of course

Summer or winter? Fall and summer....I love when the pool opens!

Hugs or Kisses? both

Favorite Dessert? my moms cherry fluff

What books are you reading? Sisterchicks.......its cute

What is on your mouse pad? Minute Maid Park....GO ASTROS!!

What did you watch last night on TV? nothing...I had a cookie swap to go to... well, I did watch the news and some of nick at night and then I fell asleep

Favorite Smell? Xmas candles burning

Favorite Sounds? my kids playing

Rolling Stones or Beatles? Beatles.

Furthest you've been away from home? Paris, France

Have a great weekend!!
xoxoxo

Out of the mouths of babes

Today while walking to the car after picking Macy up from school I was reading one of her many papers. This was a little interview her teacher gave the kids about things to be thankful for.....

What I am Thankful for
by Macy

On Thanksgiving day I am thankful for: Mommy and Daddy and Granma?

My moms name is: Heather
How old is she: 1 year
My mom smells like: Flowers
She likes to eat: Hamburgers
The thing my mom cooks best is: French fries
What I like best about my mom: earrings
If I had lots of money, I would buy my mom: Ice Cream
My dad's name is: Troy
How old is he: 8 years
My dad smells like: poo-poo
He likes to eat: hamburgers
For fun, my dad like to: wrestle
My dad's job is: making money
What I like best about my dad: he plays basketball


OK...I know what your thinking. No, Troy doesn't really smell like poo-poo. HAHA! Isn't that the funniest thing. I had to go back into her classroom and talk to her teacher. When she saw me walk in she started laughing. I was so embarrassed but she assured me that Macy wasn't the only one who put that word on their paper. That still doesn't make me feel any better about my potty-mouthed child! HA! She says that because Troy and I always fight over who's girl she is... I always say to her that daddy is stinky and she is MY girl. I never dreamed she would say that at school! I guess I need to be a little more careful of what I say. Anyway, I just thought you might need a good laugh!

And by the way I do cook more than just hamburgers and French fries.

Live well, laugh often, love much

I've been following the story of Kyle Lake, a preacher from the University Baptist Church in Waco, who was electrocuted and died last week while performing a baptism. It was such a tragedy....I just can't believe that something like that could happen. WHY?? I feel so much sorrow for his family. He was married and had 3 small children. I just can't even imagine the pain that they are feeling right now. Please help me pray for healing and comfort for the Lake family and also for the UBC family. From what I read he was a vibrant man whom everyone loved, a true man of God. They say he had a gift for preaching and bringing people to Christ....especially in the college community. I just wanted to post one of the things he said in his last sermon that I found on the website. Even though I didn't know him, his words really touched my heart and I wanted to share it with you. Sometimes we take life for granted and forget how precious it really is and how everything around us and everyone in our lives are truly treasures from God. I hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed week.........


Live

Live. And Live Well. BREATHE. Breathe in and Breathe deeply. Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now. On a crystal clear, breezy 70 degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun. If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool Autumn day to FREEZE your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE. Get knee-deep in a novel and LOSE track of time. If you bike, pedal HARD… and if you crash then crash well. Feel the SATISFACTION of a job well done—a paper well-written, a project thoroughly completed, a play well-performed. If you must wipe the snot from your 3-year old’s nose, don’t be disgusted if the Kleenex didn’t catch it all… because soon he’ll be wiping his own. If you’ve recently experienced loss, then GRIEVE. And Grieve well. At the table with friends and family, LAUGH. If you’re eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke. And if you eat, then SMELL. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven. And TASTE. Taste every ounce of flavor. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste every ounce of Life. Because-it-is-most-definitely-a-Gift.

We still love the 'stros

Well, all the World Series HOOPLA is officially over! I'm really pretty sad about it! I was hoping that the Astros would have done a little better than they did....one win was all I was asking for...is that SO much!! :) Reid and Troy have been a little sad but they are still Astros fans...that's all that counts, right??

Last week our neighbor came over and asked Troy if him and Reid wanted to go to game 3 of the World Series. (are you kidding me??) He told Troy that he had bought them for some clients and it fell through and he wanted to give them to us....can you believe that? I wish I would have had my video camera out to film the expressions on the boys faces! I don't know who was more excited. We never in a million years thought they could ever go to the World Series! Reid had asked if he could go but when we told him how much the ticket were he understood why we couldn't! I was sad because I couldn't go so I kept asking Reid if he was sure he wanted Daddy to take him and not me....he WAS sure! :) Anyway, the rest of the week were smiles and cheers about getting to go the game. When Tuesday arrived Reid said he thought school would never be over! He was so anxious about getting to go. I guess they left around 4:30 but before they left I took their picture like it was the first day of school. They held their tickets up and everything! It was cute...haha I told Troy to make sure he took pictures of them when they got to the park. I'll have to try to post them later. He did a really good job taking pictures and even filming a little. He is definitely a scrapbookers husband! :) I have to get Ashley to help me post the pictures because I haven't figured that out yet! :)

So, they left for the game and that is just the BEGINNNING of a crazy night :) After they left Macy and I decided to stay outside an play. It was a beautiful day....at first! I guess about 30 minutes went by and my friend Lacie called. We were talking and she asked if we wanted to come over. As I was talking to her I went to my front door to go get my purse and the door was locked. WE WERE LOCKED OUT! Of all the days to be locked out of the house. I called Troy and he was just getting to the field. He couldn't come home and bring me the keys because for one he just paid $30.00 to park (can you believe that) and second they would miss all the fun stuff at the beginning and Reid put his foot down about that said we could just stay outside! :) Well, my sweet friend Lacie came to pick us up and take us to her house. She had to feed us and everything. I had no purse no cell phone no money......nothing......just the clothes on my back (and Macy's) plus it was cold outside! :) I'm just glad I didn't leave supper cooking on the stove!! I just happened to have my house phone outside and then it went dead. It was not my day let me tell you! So I just thought I'd be at her house till about 11:30 or 12:00....NO that would have been too easy. Only the Astros could make this game last till 2 in the morning! So, by the time Reid and Troy came to get me and Macy it was about 2:45 in the morning and we were all exhausted. Needless to say Reid missed school on Wednesday and we all slept off our crazy day. We will never forget Game 3 of the 2005 World Series...for more reasons than one.

I am, though, so thankful to my sweet neighbors for making my sweet boys so happy and helping them make a memory that will last a lifetime! They will talk about this for many many years to come. I am also so blessed that they love each other so much and enjoy doing father/ son things. They are definitely two peas in a pod and I love them both very much! :)

Supercalafragalisticespialadocious

A sign that your child has been watching too much Mary Poppins.....

*I told Macy to go pick up her toys and while she thought I wasn't looking she started snapping her fingers like her toys were just gonna jump in the toy box on their own. SO FUNNY!

*She dances like a penguin.

*She HAD to have an umbrella at Wal-Mart yesterday.

*She told me that medicine is really good.

*She often wears a hat around the house.

*She likes to use the chalk on the sidewalk like Bert


The girl keeps me laughing.

Rita, Rita we don't need ya!!

What in the world?? Can you believe another hurricane?

The last couple days have been a blur for our family. Yesterday we left our house at about 5:00 in the afternoon. Leaving my house was one of the hardest thingsI've ever done. The way the hurricane is going it is headed right in our direction and we will for sure get flooding or worse. It is was so hard yesterday going thru my house deciding what I would save or let float away in the Gulf of Mexico. Needless to say there were a few tears...especially when we pulled out of the driveway not knowing what we would face when we returned. Of course we packed both our cars as full as we could. I grabbed pictures off the walls, pictures in boxes, scrapbooks, pictures just sitting around, pictures on my refrigerator....obviously I had alot of pictures!! ha ha We also had to get important papers, kids stuff, Grannys quilts and who knows whatelse I threw in there at the last minute. It makes me sad because I couldn't get all my Christmas decos....I know it doesn't sound important and it's really not in the big scheme of things but alot of my ornaments are things that either my kids made, I bought just for them, or we got when we got married. You just don't realize how many precious things you have in your home until you have to choose what means the most to you .... it is heartbreaking. When we got hours down the road I remembered I left my favorite pillow....

I got so tickled at Reid because I told him to go in his room and grab a few things and he came down with a backpack full of baseball cards, baseball hats, a baseball signed by John Lackey and his trophys!! ha ha...I was cracking up. Macy got her backpack and loaded it up with some of her Noah's ark little people and I think some baby dolls. She would't let me open it...she wanted to load it in the car all on her own! Go figure.....

We went to Wal-mart on Monday night and got whatever was left. It looked like a bomb went off in there. Troy got batteries, juice, water (2 cases were all we could get!!) and some canned stuff. We also picked up a few rubbermaid containers. I was able to get all my pictures and stuff in them. I also packed tote bags and garbage sacks. We looked like the Beverly Hililbillys going down the road...which brings me to the next part of the story..... :)

We were headed for Smithville, not knowing what was ahead. As I said we left at 5 in the afternoon. It took us 11 hours to get from our house to Rosenburg which is only about 50-60 miles. I finally had a little breakdown and told Troy we could not sit in this any longer because it was already about 2:00 in the morning and Macy had just about had enough. So we called Ashley to get back road directions to get to Katy. My sister is like Nana..she can get you anywhere anytime thru all kinds of dirt roads and back roads. We didn't know where we were she was telling Troy to turn here, there and all of a sudden we were on her street...only by the grace of God and Ashley's smart inherited sense of directions. ha ha (by the way, we had to bust thru one baracade...but intense times calls for intense measures...is that the saying?? ha) Thanks, sissy for all your help!

You just can't even believe all the traffic. It was bumber to bumper all night. I think the fastest we went was 20 mph. The kids did great about the first 9 hours.....thank God for portable DVD players! I think we watched Barney 89 million times. Reid and Troy were in front of us in the Honda and every so often I would see Reid turn around and wave! I think for him it was a real adventure..... for me it was NOT but seeing my sweet boy smiling and waving made it all better.

So, we finally all got to bed about 4:30am and are slow moving this morning. Ashley and I went to Wal-mart and were able to get some stuff and now I think it is nap time. I am just glad we are not still sitting in traffic like SO many people. I am so thankful that we are at Ashley and BA's and are safe...

Please keep our family in your prayers and pray that Rita will lose strength and spare our home. Also pray for the people still sitting on all the main roads trying to reach their families. It's a parking lot out there....

Sorry it's so long...I got on a roll. Hope I didn't bore you too bad.... ha ha

Aloha

Your Hawaiian Name is:

Lanikai Hokulani

What's" your Hawaiian Name?

I thought this was fun...now that I have a cool Hawaiian name I think I should get to go to Hawaii, right?? So, what is your Hawaiian name?

Have a great weekend..........

update on Picasso

OK...I feel bad. Macy just came in and said, "I'm sorry mommy for writing on your floor." Doesn't that just melt your heart... heehee I know she just wants out of time out but her apology was so sweet. Thank you God for forgiveness..........

My Little Picasso

I had to sit down for a minute and blog before I lost my ever loving mind!! ha ha Macy is really trying my patience today. She is a ring tale tooter....Last month she wrote on my couch with a red marker and then when I asked her who did it she blamed it on Reid......UGHHH!! How do they learn to lie?? So, she got in a little trouble. Well, today I am cleaning up toys and I notice a blue crayon on my carpet and I look a little closer and yes, you guessed it.....I nice little portrait on my tile floor in the entry way. So, I ask her about it and it wasn't Reid this time...the conversation went a little something like this:

Me: "Macy, what happened to my floor?"
Macy: "What? I don't know" (with hand on hips and a confused look on her face)
Me: "Why is there blue crayon all over my floor?"
Macy: "Well, I wanted to color my baby dolls face and we got it all over the floor but it was a accident ok mommy."
Me: Your daddy will be so sad when he gets home and sees the floor."
Macy: "No he won't"
Me: "Please go sit on your bed and think about what you did."
Macy: "I already did think about what I did."

OK....what do I do about my budding artist and anyone have any ideas about how to get crayon off the tile?? I haven't even tried to scrub it...it's been one of those days. I hope tomorrow I will laugh about this.. :)

Pray without ceasing.....

I have tried for days to post about Hurricane Katrina but I cannot find the words. My heart aches for the people who have lost everything. I can hardly put my mind around it. The news is depressing to watch but I have been glued to it since day one. I want to help so badly but don't know what to do. All the people are right here in my town and I feel completly helpless. Our church is taking in people and hopefully I can be used there. I don't know.... what do you when you don't know what to do? (that was a weird sentence...) I wish I could help like Oprah. She is one amazing woman. I watched her show today and it was very touching. I didn't get up the whole hour...my eyes were open to things I thought I would never see. The devastation and sadness she showed was unreal.


Reid got 1 student in his class today and 1 across the hall. There are many more thru the school. I really think his eyes were open to the tragedy today when those precious children told them of everything they lost. Can 9 year olds really understand the depth of the horrible aftermath of the hurricane? I can barely understand it. All we can do is pray, especially for the little children.


Tonight my heart is heavy.......

You are Psalms.

Which book of the Bible are you?


I thought this was neat....let me know what book you are :)

My baby is officially a third grader... YIKES!! This morning went great. He was excited and walked right into the class without even hesitating. I was waiting for some sort of kiss or hug, but....nothing!! My baby is growing up and I think getting a kiss at school now might be a little embarrassing. It makes me sad. I guess I thought he would kiss me all the way thru 12th grade. :) Oh, he did let me take a picture with him and his teacher before I left...Yeah!

He looked so cute in his new clothes and new school bag. He had his bag full of pencils, sharpeners, paper and gadgets (compliments of Neena and Papaw). He was a little worried about all his school supplies....I assured him that they will be there on his desk when he gets to school. I love the PTA packs!! :) The only thing we didn't get done was a haircut....oh well, good thing that shaggy hair is the style. I'll try to post a picture if I can figure it out.

I'm a little lost today without the Rooster (and Macy is, too) but I know he's having a big day!! I can't wait to hear all about it....

skool is kool

Please pray for little Reid...he will be starting school on Monday. I can't believe he will be in the third grade. It just seems like yesterday that I was changing his diapers, rocking him to sleep, letting him run back and forth to Nana and Poppi's and letting him watch Barney, over and over. :) Time flies.......

We got to meet his teacher today and I am really excited. She was really nice....she reminded me of Jenna...young, very sweet and thoughtful, excited about school, and loving on all the kids. I got a little teary eyed watching Reid as he played in his desk and looked around the room in hopes of a friend being in there that he knew.....and "YES", he said, "Jorge is in my room!!" Yikes....they are a pair. Let's hope Ms. Digman separates them during class. ha ha He is also glad that his friend Matthew is in there from church. I'm glad too. I have a really good feeling about this year so please pray with me that it will be better than last year.....No tears this year.... I can't take it

Happy Birthday to my sweetie

Just a quick blog to tell my sweetie Happy Birthday...even though he doesn't ever read my blogs! Oh, well... He's 35 today and is still looking good..hee hee!! I can't believe he is 35...and just think we met when he was 17 and I was 14...YIKES...he doesn't like me to tell people that!! ha ha

So...happy birthday to the love of my life.........

Bedtime Blues

HELP!! I am so mad tonight. I feel like it is a struggle every night to get my kids to bed. They are night owls and I need them to be in bed. Reid really tried my patience tonight and I don't really know how to handle it right now. He wanted to watch a movie at 10:00 (after being sick all day, again) and I said no and the tears started to flow........It makes me feel like a terrible mom. Is it bad that I need a little "me" time?? Maybe I need to go back and read "The Strong Willed Child" for the millionth time. :)

Sorry....had to vent.........

Tylenol, Motrin..whatever works

We have been a little puny lately. I think I started it with a headache and fever for me. It's just a viral infection but it lasts for about 3-4 days. Macy had it last week and was pretty pitiful. I ended up taking her to the doctor because I thought she might have strep throat...no, it was the viral infection. She is finally her old self and back to playing play-doh, barbies and making big messes! Yesterday while I was getting ready for church, Reid started feeling bad. I let him stay home with Troy and by the time I got home he had a fever and bad headache....UGH!! He ran fever all thru the night and this morning is a little better but still laying around complaining of a headache...the fever is a little better but he is still not himself. Right now he is watching Toy Story...in my bed. I hope Troy doesn't get it!

I was thinking today of times when I was sick and all the things my mom would do for me. I remember her making a "bed" for us on the couch so we could watch TV while we were sick, how wonderful the clean sheets felt when she changed them after us being sick, soup and crackers, I remember Nana always bringing popsicles out to us. And of course the TLC that Mom gave us until we felt better. :) I still wish for that TLC and for popsicles when I am sick. I know being sick isn't the best memory but anyone remember things your mom or dad would do for you that was special?

The Hottest Coolest Time in Texas

ok...it's 11:15 pm on Saturday night and are my kids sleeping???? NO THEY ARE NOT!! They are however.....in bed. I hear a lot of flipping and talking but no sleeping. This summer has been a crazy one so all of our schedules are off. We just got back from our annual Schlitterbahn trip with the Sab's. It was another fun time with family. The four of us went a day early so we could get two full days of fun.....is waiting in line for an hour really fun??? Anyway, the first night I got food poisoning (or something) :) I can tell you that I won't be eating at Applebee's any time soon. Thankfully, I felt better the next morning and we were off to the park. We stood in line for the river ride for about an hour (after standing in line for a lifejacket and kiddy toob for Macy) and when we finally got to the front of the line Macy had a screaming fit....legs straight and NOT getting into the toob that I stood in line for 15 minutes to get...well we made her get in and she cried all the way down. The river ride is not a scary ride...it's really relaxing but she didn't think so. There is a point in the ride that you can go one way to the Comal River and the other way to get out and yes, you guessed it...the girls had to get out and the boys got to finish the ride. :) So, the rest of our trip Troy and I took turns with her and played in the kiddy part. I was glad when it was my turn to go with Reid to the FUN rides!! We had a great time and look forward to going back again next year.

*******

Before we went to Schlitterbahn we had a fun weekend at Mom and Dad's for the 4th. I wrote that we were going to Rosanky to watch the fireworks but we decided to stay in the 'ville to watch...the were really good. We all had fun...we sat on the tailgates of Old Blue and BA's truck. Macy did not like the fireworks but loved the snowcone!! :) Reid loved the fireworks and didn't finish his snowcone....go figure. Mom had a BBQ at her house and we did a lot of swimming and eating! Oh, my gosh we ate ALL day!! One of Reid's favorite things was getting to ride Terry's golf cart all over D. River! We had a blast and hope to make the 4th party and annual thing!!