Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Saint Patrick's Day Adventure
Today, took the big kids to the San Jacinto Battleground and Monument. The monument has a museum in it; you can also watch a movie about the Texas Revolution (we opted not to today) and ride an elevator 50 stories up to the observation deck, which is just below the star at the top of the mounument (we took the elevator ride - scary!).
It started out to be a foggy and drizzly Saint Patrick's Day. Even so, I wanted to take a picture of all the kids in fron of the azalea bushes before we got into the van. Baby Butterbean didn't care to accompany us on our tour of Texas history, so he stayed home with Dad. Besides, BB had had a long night of teething and Dad had stayed up with him, so they were both pretty tuckerd out. And believe you me, learning about the Battle of San Jacinto can really use up lots of energy.
Our journey began as we traveled for minutes and minutes to get to the monument (which is like two miles from our house). Most exciting on our journey was the ferry ride. The ferry pictured is not the one on which we rode, but it's just like the one we rode. I took this picture from the van (which was on the ferry at the time).
At last! Our perserverence paid off. We made it to the monument. We looked around inside for a little bit, exclaiming over swords and guns and the portrait of the evil Santa Anna, and rejoicing over at portraits and articles of Colonel Sidney Sherman and Sam Houston. OK, so it was more like me going, "There's Sidney Sherman! Say, 'Yay, Sidney Sherman!'" and the kids repeating, but I think it sunk in a little bit.
All around the monument is the battleground. There are also lots of nature trails as *the oil companies try to make up for all the damage they have done* the historical society has tried to recreate the natural coastal prarie as it was at the time of the battle. We went on a great nature trail.
We did't see any crabs, otters, fish, or snakes, as the nature trail sign had promised, but we did see lots of birds. It was really cool.
Too bad it was so dang foggy. It would have been a great shot of the monument in the background.
We stopped for a quick photo op in front of the reflection pool before going across the street to see the rest of the battleground and to look at the Battleship Texas, which is docked there. We didn't get out and go in, just looked at it from the van. We decided to save it for a day when Grandma and Pappa are here.
But our adventure was not quite over! Banana and Noodle were in severe need of haircuts. So we had some lunch at KFC and then went to great clips, but we had to get a "before" shot of the overgrown mops.
Oh, so nice! After - now we can see Banana's eyes again! And Noodle, well, she had done some damage to her hair previously which could only be corrected with layers. Now, it's all one length again. However, no matter the length or layer, those kids are adorable, if I do say so myself!
Home again and the fog had burned off, so the three big kids went back to where we started this morning, with the blooming brillant azaleas - and a brilliant St. Patrick's Day adventure - behind them.
It started out to be a foggy and drizzly Saint Patrick's Day. Even so, I wanted to take a picture of all the kids in fron of the azalea bushes before we got into the van. Baby Butterbean didn't care to accompany us on our tour of Texas history, so he stayed home with Dad. Besides, BB had had a long night of teething and Dad had stayed up with him, so they were both pretty tuckerd out. And believe you me, learning about the Battle of San Jacinto can really use up lots of energy.
Our journey began as we traveled for minutes and minutes to get to the monument (which is like two miles from our house). Most exciting on our journey was the ferry ride. The ferry pictured is not the one on which we rode, but it's just like the one we rode. I took this picture from the van (which was on the ferry at the time).
At last! Our perserverence paid off. We made it to the monument. We looked around inside for a little bit, exclaiming over swords and guns and the portrait of the evil Santa Anna, and rejoicing over at portraits and articles of Colonel Sidney Sherman and Sam Houston. OK, so it was more like me going, "There's Sidney Sherman! Say, 'Yay, Sidney Sherman!'" and the kids repeating, but I think it sunk in a little bit. 
All around the monument is the battleground. There are also lots of nature trails as *the oil companies try to make up for all the damage they have done* the historical society has tried to recreate the natural coastal prarie as it was at the time of the battle. We went on a great nature trail.
We did't see any crabs, otters, fish, or snakes, as the nature trail sign had promised, but we did see lots of birds. It was really cool.
Too bad it was so dang foggy. It would have been a great shot of the monument in the background.
We stopped for a quick photo op in front of the reflection pool before going across the street to see the rest of the battleground and to look at the Battleship Texas, which is docked there. We didn't get out and go in, just looked at it from the van. We decided to save it for a day when Grandma and Pappa are here.
But our adventure was not quite over! Banana and Noodle were in severe need of haircuts. So we had some lunch at KFC and then went to great clips, but we had to get a "before" shot of the overgrown mops.
Oh, so nice! After - now we can see Banana's eyes again! And Noodle, well, she had done some damage to her hair previously which could only be corrected with layers. Now, it's all one length again. However, no matter the length or layer, those kids are adorable, if I do say so myself!
Home again and the fog had burned off, so the three big kids went back to where we started this morning, with the blooming brillant azaleas - and a brilliant St. Patrick's Day adventure - behind them.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
More Saturday Morning Pictures
When Noodle saw I was taking pictures, she also had to ham it up. She said, "Take my picture holding Baby Butterbean's puppy!"
Well, when Banana realized we were now incorporating props into the photo session, he ran to get his monster-truck-tire earmuffs that he got at the monster truck show a couple of months back.
Then they posed.
Then I said, "Give me your biggest smiles EVER!"
So they did:
Well, when Banana realized we were now incorporating props into the photo session, he ran to get his monster-truck-tire earmuffs that he got at the monster truck show a couple of months back.
Then they posed.
Then I said, "Give me your biggest smiles EVER!"So they did:
Baby Butterbean and Baby Butterbean's Brother
Baby Butterbean is getting big. Too big, if you want my opinion. I don't like it. Not even a little.Anyway, here's a list of Baby Butterbean's milestones:
*He turned 9 months old on the 12th of this month.
*He's babbling. "Da da da da da da da . . . " It's way cute.
*He has four teeth and is in the process of getting his fifth. Again, serious cutness. Well, they're cute after they come in, but getting them is a nightmare for him. Poor guy.
*He's getting some adorable, fuzzy, chicken-type fluff on his head. Nice to pet.
*He's trying to crawl. He's getting close. Way too close.
*The strawberry on his nose is fading. But even that makes me sad. It's like the last mark of his very tiny infanthood. I think his red nose is absolutely adorable.
*He can hold his bottle.
*He is eating all kinds of food.
*He thinks he's all big and almost not like a baby anymore. I like to remind him that he's wrong about that. I remind him a lot.
Also, Baby Butterbean has the best big brother in the whole, wide world. Banana wanted in on the picture-taking action this morning. I said I would take his picture if he gave me his very best and biggest smile. What do you think:
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Someone Comment Already!
Please note:
The below post (something fun) still needs one more comment.
I know you want something! Be the fifth person!
Thanks! :o)
*********************************************
Hey, everybody!
Scroll down till you get to my previous post . . . now read it . . . now comment!
I want to bring you joy and handmade goodies! Even if I'm already getting goodies from you!
It will bring me joy as well!
So let's ALL have fun, ok???!!!! :o)
I already have some good ideas about what I want to make.
Sending love . . .
The below post (something fun) still needs one more comment.
I know you want something! Be the fifth person!
Thanks! :o)
*********************************************
Hey, everybody!
Scroll down till you get to my previous post . . . now read it . . . now comment!
I want to bring you joy and handmade goodies! Even if I'm already getting goodies from you!
It will bring me joy as well!
So let's ALL have fun, ok???!!!! :o)
I already have some good ideas about what I want to make.
Sending love . . .
Friday, March 06, 2009
Something Fun
Thanks, Peanut! (See Turning the Truck in my blogroll list.)
The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me!
My choice. For you.
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It’ll be done this year. {translation: you may be waiting a little while}
4. You have no clue what it’s going to be … it may be cards, a poem, a bookmark, something yummy or a complete surprise to you (and me!) … who knows? not you, that’s for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.
The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me!
My choice. For you.
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It’ll be done this year. {translation: you may be waiting a little while}
4. You have no clue what it’s going to be … it may be cards, a poem, a bookmark, something yummy or a complete surprise to you (and me!) … who knows? not you, that’s for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Big Enough
I think I've posted this before at some time.
I just love Chris Rice. He's the best.
Big Enough by Chris Rice
None of us knows, and this makes it a mystery
If life is a comedy, then why all the tragedy?
Three and a half pounds of brain try to figure out
What this world is all about and is there an eternity?
Is there an eternity?
God, if You're there, I wish you'd show me,
And, God, if You care, then I need You to know me
I hope You don't mind me asking the questions
But I figure you're big enough
Lying on pillows we're haunted and half-awake
Does anyone hear us pray
If I die before I wake?
Then the morning comes and the mirror's another place
Where we wrestle face to face
With the image of diety
The image of diety
God, if You're there, I wish You'd show me,
And, God, if you care, then I need You to know me
I hope You don't mind me asking the questions
But I figure You're big enough,
I figure You're big enough
When I imagine the size of the universe,
And I wonder what's out past the edges,
Then I discover inside me a space as big
And believe that I'm meant to be
Filled up with more than just questions
So God, if You're there, I wish You'd show me,
And, God, if You care, then I need You to know me
I hope You don't mind me asking the questions
But I
Figure You're big enough
I figure You're big enough
'Cause I am not big enough
I just love Chris Rice. He's the best.
Big Enough by Chris Rice
None of us knows, and this makes it a mystery
If life is a comedy, then why all the tragedy?
Three and a half pounds of brain try to figure out
What this world is all about and is there an eternity?
Is there an eternity?
God, if You're there, I wish you'd show me,
And, God, if You care, then I need You to know me
I hope You don't mind me asking the questions
But I figure you're big enough
Lying on pillows we're haunted and half-awake
Does anyone hear us pray
If I die before I wake?
Then the morning comes and the mirror's another place
Where we wrestle face to face
With the image of diety
The image of diety
God, if You're there, I wish You'd show me,
And, God, if you care, then I need You to know me
I hope You don't mind me asking the questions
But I figure You're big enough,
I figure You're big enough
When I imagine the size of the universe,
And I wonder what's out past the edges,
Then I discover inside me a space as big
And believe that I'm meant to be
Filled up with more than just questions
So God, if You're there, I wish You'd show me,
And, God, if You care, then I need You to know me
I hope You don't mind me asking the questions
But I
Figure You're big enough
I figure You're big enough
'Cause I am not big enough
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
How to Survive a Personal Crisis
1. Have a long talk with a great friend. (thanks. I love you.)
2. MGD. It's no longer just for your Beer Can Chicken recipe.
3. Don't be afraid of new thoughts or of new things happening; things will always change forever and ever.
4. Have a good laugh, thanks to Noodle. She said that when Uncle Matt, Aunt Lisa, and Trevor come to visit, she is going to throw her big coat at Uncle Matt's face "and he will laugh," and that she is not going to hug them because, "they're too crazy."
5. Brownies.
6. Ice Cream.
7. Reese's Cups.
8. Spoonfuls of straight sugar if you have to.
9. Hugs and sugars from four sweet little people who are always pulling on my pants legs.
10. Keeping a sense of humor.
11. Believing - if not feeling - that things will be OK later.
12. Feeling OK about letting things not be OK right now.
13. Blog.
14. Bubble baths.
15. More brownies.
2. MGD. It's no longer just for your Beer Can Chicken recipe.
3. Don't be afraid of new thoughts or of new things happening; things will always change forever and ever.
4. Have a good laugh, thanks to Noodle. She said that when Uncle Matt, Aunt Lisa, and Trevor come to visit, she is going to throw her big coat at Uncle Matt's face "and he will laugh," and that she is not going to hug them because, "they're too crazy."
5. Brownies.
6. Ice Cream.
7. Reese's Cups.
8. Spoonfuls of straight sugar if you have to.
9. Hugs and sugars from four sweet little people who are always pulling on my pants legs.
10. Keeping a sense of humor.
11. Believing - if not feeling - that things will be OK later.
12. Feeling OK about letting things not be OK right now.
13. Blog.
14. Bubble baths.
15. More brownies.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Desert Places
Snow falling and night falling fast, oh, fast
In a field I looked into going past,
And the ground almost covered smooth in snow,
But a few weeds and stubble showing last.
The woods around it have it -- it is theirs.
All animals are smothered in their lairs.
I am too absent-spirited to count;
The loneliness includes me unawares.
And lonely as it is that loneliness
Will be more lonely ere it will be less --
A blanker whiteness of benighted snow
With no expression, nothing to express.
They cannot scare me with their empty spaces
Between stars -- on stars where no human race is.
I have it in me so much nearer home
To scare myself with my own desert places.
"Desert Places" by Robert Frost
From "A Further Range," 1936
In a field I looked into going past,
And the ground almost covered smooth in snow,
But a few weeds and stubble showing last.
The woods around it have it -- it is theirs.
All animals are smothered in their lairs.
I am too absent-spirited to count;
The loneliness includes me unawares.
And lonely as it is that loneliness
Will be more lonely ere it will be less --
A blanker whiteness of benighted snow
With no expression, nothing to express.
They cannot scare me with their empty spaces
Between stars -- on stars where no human race is.
I have it in me so much nearer home
To scare myself with my own desert places.
"Desert Places" by Robert Frost
From "A Further Range," 1936
Sometimes
Sometimes we go through hard stuff. All of us do.
Things at work are hard. Other stuff is hard right now, too.
My friend Lisa died. We will miss her very much. Her visitation was yesterday and her funeral is this morning. Please pray for her family. Sometimes things just do not make sense. Lisa has left a great legacy. I've been thinking a lot about my life since learning of her death on Wednesday. I want to leave a great legacy, too. But sometimes . . . I am afraid that I won't.
I just want to say how much I love my family and all of my friends. You are all so very dear to me, and if I have ever caused any of you hurt, then I am so sorry.
Sometimes you just wish you could take back all of your mistakes, but you can't. You just have to hope to be forgiven.
I know that later there will be good times. But we have to live through the hard stuff too. And we don't have a guarantee that things will make sense.
Things at work are hard. Other stuff is hard right now, too.
My friend Lisa died. We will miss her very much. Her visitation was yesterday and her funeral is this morning. Please pray for her family. Sometimes things just do not make sense. Lisa has left a great legacy. I've been thinking a lot about my life since learning of her death on Wednesday. I want to leave a great legacy, too. But sometimes . . . I am afraid that I won't.
I just want to say how much I love my family and all of my friends. You are all so very dear to me, and if I have ever caused any of you hurt, then I am so sorry.
Sometimes you just wish you could take back all of your mistakes, but you can't. You just have to hope to be forgiven.
I know that later there will be good times. But we have to live through the hard stuff too. And we don't have a guarantee that things will make sense.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
It's Almost 100% Certain . . .
That we will be getting this house.
Take a look and let me know what you think!
We love it; the kids love it. They are always begging to go over and see "The Big House."
We'll have plenty of room! Come visit us!!!!
Take a look and let me know what you think!
We love it; the kids love it. They are always begging to go over and see "The Big House."
We'll have plenty of room! Come visit us!!!!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Noodle
Chicken Nugget had an overnight event this weekend, so I left the boys at home to watch wrestling and basketball, and Noodle and I had a date! We ate at Cracker Barrell, and Noodle picked out a dress-up set that was on sale for 70% off. We went to see the movie Coraline ("That mean mom was scary!" was Noodle's review of the movie.). I had to make a quick trip to JCPenny to get some pants ("You're just killin' me, Mom, with all this stuff you have to do at the mall!" was Noodle's impatient review of my shopping excursion to Penny's.) Last, we painted at a ceramics place in the mall. Noodle painted three hearts to hang up in her room, and I painted a rose. We even got sparkles srayed on them before we left.
Have I mentioned at all how super stressed I have been lately? No? Well, I have been. Probably more stressed than I can ever recall feeling, EVER. It is a combination of lots of things, but let me just reiterate that the ending result of the combination has been STRESS.
Leave it to Noodle to make me feel better.
Yesterday, as we were leaving Cracker Barrell, I said, "Noodle, did you know that I love you? I love you so much. I love you more than the world!"
Noodle wanted to let me know how much she loves me, too. She said, "I love you more than chicken!"
Thanks, Noodle. I really needed that laugh! And I need you. And I even love you more than chicken, too!
Have I mentioned at all how super stressed I have been lately? No? Well, I have been. Probably more stressed than I can ever recall feeling, EVER. It is a combination of lots of things, but let me just reiterate that the ending result of the combination has been STRESS.
Leave it to Noodle to make me feel better.
Yesterday, as we were leaving Cracker Barrell, I said, "Noodle, did you know that I love you? I love you so much. I love you more than the world!"
Noodle wanted to let me know how much she loves me, too. She said, "I love you more than chicken!"
Thanks, Noodle. I really needed that laugh! And I need you. And I even love you more than chicken, too!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Education
I'd like to write a post about teaching. That's what I really want to do. But I'd have to be SO cryptic, that I would have to include a decoder ring.
So I'll just say this:
Parts of teaching are really great. Other parts aren't. I love the kids. Lots of other stuff about it, I don't love at all.
For a more detailed report (since I can't give the name of my school or any other specific names on this blog, due to possible legal retribution), I'd be happy to send a personal e-mail. Or, look below for the telepathic version of what I really want to say:
***telepathic version in transmit now***
Now tell me THAT wasn't a mouthful!!!!
So I'll just say this:
Parts of teaching are really great. Other parts aren't. I love the kids. Lots of other stuff about it, I don't love at all.
For a more detailed report (since I can't give the name of my school or any other specific names on this blog, due to possible legal retribution), I'd be happy to send a personal e-mail. Or, look below for the telepathic version of what I really want to say:
***telepathic version in transmit now***
Now tell me THAT wasn't a mouthful!!!!
Holiday
No, it's not a holiday. It's mean to even call it a holiay. But I'm home. It's because the girls have strep. Poor girls. I feel sorry for them. But I can't say I feel sorry to be home!
Monday, February 02, 2009
So . . .
I've been so busy! I have been meaning to and wanting to blog, but who has the time???? Unless I'm up at 3AM some morning or something like that . . .
Anyway, things are going great. I really love my students at work. I'm overloaded and sometimes feel overwhelmed with getting used to all the paperwork involved with teaching. But it gets easier every day.
Oh, and we might get a house. But that's all I'm gonna say for now . . .
Much love to you all!
Anyway, things are going great. I really love my students at work. I'm overloaded and sometimes feel overwhelmed with getting used to all the paperwork involved with teaching. But it gets easier every day.
Oh, and we might get a house. But that's all I'm gonna say for now . . .
Much love to you all!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Sunday Afternoon Nap
Here you go, Melanie!As I was talking to my sis-in-law Mel on the phone, I turned the corner to walk into the kitchen and found Banana conked out on the floor. I guess I'm a bad mom, because I don't remember when I stopped hearing him playing, or how he ended up in the dining room.
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