Aaarrrggghhh

At least that's what Brynne says when she puts on her "pirate" shirt!! She loves this shirt, as you can see by the fact that it's in the last two posts!! (Oh, by the way, scroll down to read about Dawson's birthday party .. I typed it as a draft on Saturday, so it posted before the "crummy" one.)

She wore this outfit to preschool today, and in my normal fashion I thought she looked so cute that I needed a picture. (Mom, does this remind you of anything???) She went up to the door and I was just getting ready to say, "Give me some attitude" when she stuck her leg up in that pose. That's my girl!!! I took the closeup so you could see her skull barrettes adorned to her precious little head! How can someone so "tough" still look so sweet???



Due to the sweet words and encouragement from three special ladies, I feel much better today. However, still very convicted. I have work to do on myself .. don't we all? But, I had some new revelations present themselves in the last day or two and I thank you three for your candid "help". Have a great day!

Crummy

I'm feeling a little down today. I have a tad-bit of a cold that could be contributing. But, it's more than that. Every once in a while I just have one of those days where I feel inadequate, that my priorities are all out of whack. I have a list of priorities that I try to live my life by: God, husband, children, home, my needs and then other's needs. Unfortunately the squeaky wheel gets the most oil (aka attention). Sunday afternoons seem to be particularly hard. I believe it's an attack of the enemy after a spiritual high at church. The kids tend to take the highest priority in my life, at the exclusion of other things. And when that happens then my whole world feels out of sync. I know that I put the kids first because I spend the most time with them and my relationships with them are the strongest. You spend time with those you feel the closest to. I hate it when I allow that to happen, though, because then I begin to feel so distant from everyone and everything else. I have no balance. And then I'm miserable. I know what is the correct order of priorities in my life to provide joy and peace, I just have a hard time keeping those priorities in their correct alignment. I feel crummy today because I know I have allowed that to happen, again, and I have neglected, primarily, Rick. We don't fight, we just feel distant. Well, I can't speak for him, but that's how I feel. And it is at no fault of his, but of mine, because I have allowed my priorities to get out of line. Usually I can pray about that, repent and consciously try to get things back on track. But he left at 4:30 this morning for a business trip and won't be back until Thursday, but we're leaving Wednesday to go to Missouri and won't be back until Sunday. I hate leaving things "unresolved". He might not even know there is a "problem", but I suspect he does. The last time this happened, was on 9/11 ... yes, THAT 9/11. We were "out of alignment" that had kindof come to a head, and then he left for a business trip early that next morning and it was then that the terrorist attack occured. I remember thinking, "What if he would have been on one of those planes? I left things unresolved and I'd have had to live with that for the rest of my life." We should never allow that to happen. This too shall pass, I know. We have a good solid marriage and we always work through our issues. I guess I just need prayer. I don't like the "old" me who puts everything before her husband. I absolutely KNOW that everything works itself out in a joyful and peaceful manner when God's priorities are being lived in my life. So pray for me today, and contiuously, that my selfish person goes away, and I remember my priorities and live them accordingly.

Tulsa Corn Maize

For Dawson's birthday this year he took five kids (Lauren, Kyle, Braden, Korey, Dylan) to the Tulsa Corn Maize in Broken Arrow .. very cool place! You can check it out at www.tulsamaize.com. We arrived there at about 5:30 p.m., and they allowed us to choose a fire pit area. We chose the one right next to the entrance to the maze. It had two picnic tables covered by a tent and the firepit had logs sitting around it to sit on. We brought hot dogs, chips, drinks and, of course, s'mores. The kids spent the daylight hours running through the maze, going on a hayride, playing in the corn pit and jumping in the "hay jump".





When it got dark one of the mazes turned into a "haunted maze". Most of them were brave enough, although a couple opted out. There was also a shed-sized area full of corn kernels .. kindof like a sandbox. Very fun! Rick, Eli and Brynne joined us a little later and Eli and Brynne had a blast playing in the corn pit, riding the cow train and, especially, playing on the "hay jump." The partygoers just ran around and played until 9:30 when we headed home.





Our neighbors, the Gardners, joined us, as well as our friends, the Breeses. Here is a picture of Kyndal and the Gardner girls: Christina, Amanda and Caitlyn. They have such a good time together! But talk about drama ... WHOA!!



We had a really great time! It's a fun place! Dawson had fun, but was bothered by an incident with a goth-type girl in the haunted maze who cussed him out for shining his headlamp in her face. The visual of that scenario makes me laugh. He wasn't laughing, though.

What Goes Up ...

Last Thursday was Owasso's Homecoming parade. Kyndal was on the 8th grade cheerleading float. That's her with her leg hanging off.



The little guys always love the parade! They get so much candy! In fact, I encourage them to get as much as they can so we can reuse it on Halloween night to give out .. I'm a cheapskate, I know! We're usually only home for about 30 minutes anyway. We were enjoying the parade .. it was a nice 75 degrees. Eli and Brynne were waving at the Pride of Owasso (marching band) and clapping and really enjoying themselves. And Dawson was there too. We were sitting on the curb, in the shade. Brynne was sitting on my lap. The firetruck went by and we waved. Then came the water pump truck .. some old thing. It was pretty cool looking. When it got about 40 yards from where we were sitting it shot water up into the air. You can see the picture here.



Now ... what goes up must come down, right??? Yeah, right .. RIGHT ON TOP OF US AT FULL FORCE!!! Most people were able to run out of the way, and even Dawson and Eli managed to just get "wet". However, Brynne and I were drenched! She was sitting on my lap and I couldn't get up! Let's just say I was annoyed. On a 100+ degree day I might have appreciated that .. not on a 70 degree day when I had to IMMEDIATELY drop the kids off after the parade and get back to the JBF sale where I was working all night. My hair style now is not exactly, "wash and go", so I managed to cram it into a pony and head to JBF. I would like to suggest that the fire department rethink that idea next year! Then there were puddles everywhere, so ALL candy thrown was thrown into them and inedible! We saw an empty spot across the street, in the sun for drying, and ran over there. Since we were pretty much alone we got tons of candy. That made everything okay for everybody ... but me.

Pumpkin Patch -- Take 1

Today was our first trip to the pumpkin patch. Brynne's preschool class went to the United Methodist Church patch in Owasso. They got to hunt for one small pumpkin, then play a pumpkin-finding game in the mini hay maze. Then they sat and listened to a story and did a craft. She had a really great time! She was so cute! Of course I took a few hundred photos, but I will spare you and only post three for now. I plan to post a slideshow of all of our fall festivities when they are completed.

Although the day should have been mostly about Brynne, Eli and I ended up having a really great morning together. I wasn't planning on taking Brynne to her afternoon school activities and was going to take them both to the park. But her teachers begged me to bring her, so I did. Because I didn't take her back to school until 11:30 and Eli had to be at his school at 12:30, he and I went to the park. He ate his lunch and we went on a hike. The weather was beautiful and we had a really nice time together. I was able to take some pictures of us together, by holding the camera out, and actually got a couple of really great shots. Here is one.



Then after I took Eli to school and I picked up Brynne, she and I went to the park by ourselves. I didn't have my camera, so there are no photos of her. It was a weird day.

I had to pick Rick up from work because his car is currently dead. It can be resurrected for a mere $1500, which is just under it's trade-in value which stinks. So it will be fixed on Monday. He and I then went to Eli's parent-teacher conference and he is doing really well. We are very proud of his progress on all levels.

Happy Fall Y'all!!

Graphic Comments

I love a good snow ... one that's so deep you can't leave the house other than to sled out your back door and drink hot cocoa to warm up .. one of those snows where you gain new family members in the form of snowmen and women. I love the first "perfect" day of spring when the temperature is 70 degrees with a slight wind .. the day you plant all your spring flowers and don't wear a jacket. I love heading to Big Splash or the pool on a summer day, swimming and soaking in the sun (especially when I'm in Bermuda.) But, I REALLY REALLY REALLY love FALL!! I love everything about Fall! I love the colors, the smells, the temperature, the food, the celebrations .. everything! Today starts the first day of our many Fall activities. (Well, actually yesterday did when I started putting out fall decorations.) But today we are heading to our first, of many, trips to the Pumpkin Patch. This one is with Brynne's preschool class. I haven't had many pictures to post lately, but prepare yourself. Fall is here!

Back Together

I guess I should mention that Kyndal and Alex are "back together". What that really means is that they smile at each other at school and sit by each other at football games. He's a nice kid and I'm glad she's not breaking his heart right now. He's a Christian with a great family, so that's a positive start. Believe me, even in the 8th grade, there are some real hoodlums she could be "going with."

Rick's car collapsed last night. It's sitting in our garage. The kids and I got up and took him to work this morning. We're hoping it can be fixed, at a reasonable cost, to get him by until bonus time in February. Please pray for his car's healing! While at Rick's office, Eli saw an American Flag on Rick's co-worker's desk. He put his hand on his heart and recited the "Pledge of Allegiance". He's 4! I was impressed! Maybe Obama should take note that even our children hold this pledge dear to their hearts! Talk about praying .. please pray without ceasing that this possible anti-Christ does not get voted into office. This could very well be the end, so get right with God.



Dawson and Kyndal are doing really well in school (with the exception of Dawson's usual math struggles and Kyndal's usual english struggles). Otherwise, I am so pleased! I sat at the kitchen table this morning and watched them walk upstairs to go brush their teeth. When did my babies become teenagers? I am quite proud of them!

Tomorrow Brynne's class is going to the pumpkin patch. Eli and Brynne are very excited! They would also desperately like to see a lighthouse, but that one will have to wait.

Playing Hooky

Me and Eli are playing hooky today. We took Brynne to school this morning and then had to take Kyndal to the orthodontist for a tightening and then the dentist for some cavities. I hadn't brought his backpack or lunch and we didn't get home until after noon which didn't leave us very much time to eat and head back to town. Then I'd have and hour and a half until I had to pick up Brynne and I just don't feel like scrapbooking today during that time. I'm still beat from last week! Eli is a homebody and really didn't want to leave the house this morning. So, I made a decision to let him skip today. He had a little bit of a stuffy nose so it doesn't hurt him to stay in today. And we all know how sick he always gets from now until about March. Our really good doctor is out of the office "for a while" which makes me nervous. She knows Eli well and treats him aggressively when he picks up something, or even gets me prepared for treating him when Brynne comes down with something. Our other doctor in the office treats everything as a "virus", so basically does nothing, which then leads to something. Anyway, we're just staying home today. So there! Morgan and Makenna didn't come yesterday because they had a stomach virus, which is also going around. And Dawson skipped scouts last night. We're all just wiped out. This starts to happen to us this time of year. We just don't want to do much, yet have so much to do! Really we'd just like to hibernate! We have a busy weekend coming up, so I'm just going to veg as much as possible until then.

What a Week!

Wow! What a week! The Just Between Friends (JBF) sale was awesome, but exhausting! I think we had a great sale, although since this is my first time to actually work at it full-time I don't really have anything to compare it to. I think we sold a lot, but we had SO MUCH! Sorting was a nightmare, and a little irritating! So many consignors requested to pick up their remaining items and then didn't show to get them. So, we spent all that time sorting to just end up stuffing them into garbage bags. They were donated to Standing in the Gap, which is a huge blessing, but I just wish we wouldn't have had to sort it all into specific consignor numbers before we donated. HUGE waste of time! Working for Donna was great, and I have had some ideas swirling in my head since the sale that I hope will help us in the future. We're all just too tired to discuss those ideas right not. We thankfully have several months until the next sale, so plenty of time.

Rick was so great during the week, really helping me out and making it easy to be away. But, by Saturday morning I think everyone had had enough of me being away. Friday night Dawson was crying and Saturday morning Eli was. They were SO happy when I didn't have to "go to work" on Sunday. I feel so incredibly blessed, and I know they do too, that I don't have to work full time all the time. I felt such sadness at leaving them just for this week, I am so glad I don't have to do it all the time. I know that me not having income puts a strain on our finances, so I am so thankful that Rick loves our family enough to take on that burden completely by himself and allow me to take care of the needs of our family at home.

I was so glad to be home yesterday! We even skipped church .. something we NEVER do! I was just too exhausted, and the little guys just wanted to be with me. I didn't want to leave them in Sunday school for 3 hours. So I got caught up on my housework and it felt GREAT! I got all of my laundry caught up .. including folded and put away! We finally got our clean socks out of the laundry baskets, sorted and put away. I vacuumed, swept and mopped the floors and cleaned the kitchen. I got caught up on all of my DVR'd shows! I feel a sense of completion! Today it feels so great to have all of that done! It's raining so we have nowhere to go and I am loving that! I don't care if I don't leave the house at all this week other than to run kids where they need to go. The week revs back up at the end with trips to the pumpkin patch and Dawson's birthday party on Friday. Hopefully by then I'll be ready to leave the house!

One More Year

Happy Birthday, Dad!! My dad is 59 years old today ... only one more to the big 6-0!! See you in two weeks, dad! The kids cant' wait to see you! They really enjoyed talking to you on the phone today, too! Have a great week!