Midnight

Today was horse day. The best day of the month. Well actually we get two horse days a month! Very fun. Midnight is "H's" horse. She loves him. Taylor is her teacher. She loves her.
Look at that big smile!
H is our 2nd horse woman. S also loved horses and she took riding lessons for about a year. She took at a stable near our home from a very nice lady, Deb, who was very serious about horse back riding. She learned a lot and had fun.
Taylor is young and laid back. H is having a lot of fun as well and it costs a lot less. I think I am going to have to have a talk with her though because our lessons end early and she chats a lot and really I want at least 45 minutes of our hour to be riding, not sitting on the horse and chatting. It's not bad, I just think we can do better...but I loathe to have the chat.

monday

List of things I need to do really soon

1. start Christmas shopping, I've been thinking about it but haven't actually started.
2. prepare a FHE lesson
3. work on dinner groups
4. start a diet
5. get my recommend signed on Th night
6. get a passport in case we actually decide on a vacation destination for next year
7.go through our 72 hour packs
8.start Spanish with H
9.look for affordable flights for D&G for Christmas (LOL)
10. put away the clean laundry
11. find a new battery charger for my camera
12. get chlorine
13 go VT

Random thoughts

Yesterday brother and was on my lap and I was looking at Yahoo for something and we saw Victoria Beckham's picture. He said, that looks just like Mrs. T (his teacher) and it did. She is very pretty. (when I get my charger I'll take a picture to share)

Lucy wants to use the potty, but is having issues right now. Hopefully she'll be well soon and can wear her princess panties.

Today I went to Once Upon a Child and got Lou two pairs of jeans. Both size 3T. One fit great, the other didn't why??? Also got a cute Christmasy play dress and two purple shirts (the madness continues) I love resale!

DH and I are leaving for our MD trip in 11 days and I have nothing to wear. Do you think I can lose 20lbs in 11 days? Me neither :(

H was the only one in her violin class who memorized twinkle twinkle. I was proud of her. She's been doing very well lately.

Lucy wants to be a purple princess for Halloween, instead of Strawberry Shortcake, after I already bought her the hat. Hopefully Nana hasn't started sewing.

killer bunnies Q&A from not an expert

http://www.killerbunnies.com/game/howto.html

Killer Bunnies is a card game. Our good friends Justin & Teresa and Brian & Heather introduced us to it. They had already been playing.

DH became obsessed (surprise) and bought a set as well. Since then we have been playing with our kids, our parents, our friends and on very special occasions we get to go back to J&T's home and play against B&H and J&T in what has become affectionately called "the tournament". There is talk of a rotating trophy to travel with the winner on a monthly basis.

For me the fun is in the visiting with friends and letting the kids play together. For DH it's the weapons and the competition. Anyway, there is something for all to love. Unless you hate 4 hour long game marathons punctuated by crying kids, diaper changes, snacks to be fetched, trash talk, laughing, ganging up, pauses to clean a broken/spilt/ lost things, and general mayhem and merriment.

not "Daisy" Scouts!

I am not sure why this super cool, all girl, venturing crew would chose to take pictures of setting up the tent, hauling equipment and general goofiness instead of the swimming, hiking, jumping, fire building contesting, smore eating, bug killing, getting in shape type activities gearing up for the uber cool CO trek they have planned next summer but here you have it none the less.

busy is our middle name

J had a great time! She came home covered with bug bites, very dirty, and full of fun stories. She took some fun photos so maybe they'll be up later.

Friday night we had a marathon Killer Bunnies Tournament. The game lasted over 3 hours. The kids had a great time playing while the grown-ups sat down to the serious business of bunny extermination. We ate "bunny food". It was fun.

Saturday was soccer and karate and a birthday party BBQ for Elijah and Justin, our friends who moved to Azle not long ago. It was the first time we went to their new home and they had tons of people over. Again the kiddos had so much fun running around outside, hitting the pinata and playing with friends.

Lucy told me Friday that she was too big for diapers and wanted underwear. I bought pull-ups and she stayed dry for two days!!!
This morning she woke up covered from head to toe in diarrhea (yuck) so I think today might not go as well but the good news is I think she's ready!
Brother is also complaining about a stomach ache and sore throat...I am prepared for round three of the creepy crud :(

noon on Saturday...and the house is quiet ?!?

How did that happen?

J is off camping at Camp Cherokee with her venturing crew.
S is at work, she missed the camp out.
H, E and DH are at karate
and Lucy is taking a rare nap.

What shall I do with myself?

I do have a messy kitchen, a ton of laundry to fold and a Sunday School lesson to prepare so I guess I'll find something.

take 2

this afternoon I was the mother helper at Activity Days. The girls sewed bean bags. They had fun, and it was hectic. We had a huge car pool and I ended up with a full suburban to drop off so I got E and G from Julianna's a little on the late side. She didn't mind, but I felt so bad because Lucy threw up there, twice. I didn't even know she was sick.
We drove through Taco Bell for dinner. No sooner had we got home and I sat down and picked up my taco to take a bite when Lou walked over and threw up again, in my lap. Yuck.
H was sick 24 hours almost to the minute. Hopefully it will be over quickly for Lou too and it will stop here.... I can hope.

Today Lucy had her 6 month speech evaluation. She "graduated". She tested 33 months for expressive speech (she's 31 months old) and 4 1/2 years plus for receptive speech and cognitive ability. The two therapist said they had never had a child go so far in the test book. She is a smart girl, like her siblings and many of our friends. It seems like we really know a lot of bright "gifted" kids. I don't know why. Is it because a lot of our friends are stay at home mom's who read to the kids for hours on end? Is it the vitamins they don't take? Is "normal" really so low that it makes average kids look brilliant? Maybe it's good genes, our friends are smart people and we are not too dumb so....Again, I just don't know. In any case it was interesting to see how she did and it was fun to tell the grandmas that they were right: their grandchildren are brilliant!
She still needs to work on articulation and has a big gap between her thinking and speaking but she no longer qualifies for help and I am confident that she will do fine.

twinkle variations fill the air

kids say the darndest things...

Today after school brother asked me if he "could have a drink of the kind of milk that starts with a 'G'?"
What kind is that?
"You know, ggocolate."

Lucy walked into her room a couple days ago and let out a scream. H and I ran in to see what was the matter.
"dis room a mess!" she shrieked.
"Who made this mess?" I asked.
"H did." was the very confident reply.

Monday we were driving to TAFA and H said to me "it's too bad that Lucy's best friend moved away, now she's sad"
"Who was her best friend?"
"Evelyn"
Then Lucy interjected emphatically "NO! Emma my friend!" (Lucky Emma :) )

Most of my funny kid stories are from when they kids are little. Once they are about 6 they are smarter than me and I am sure they huddle in the bathroom laughing their heads off "at the crazy thing mom said, did, wore, cooked"

One story that I will never forget is when S and J were little S's name was everywhere. It was on street signs, our ward name, mountains, everywhere. J noticed and was bugged by it. One day we were driving and listening to the radio and they were talking about genocide.
J piped up from the back row, "FINALLY, someone is talking about my side!"
It was too funny!

finishing in style

to finish off a great day:

H is throwing up and very green around the edges :(

The missionaries came over for dinner. I made lasagna. One of them is a vegetarian...some how I never saw that note.

bummer

I am mortified

I have, accidentally but still, done the most horrible thing. And now I am so embarrassed.
I am the ward party princess, a calling I don't love.
In July we had a breakfast/bike parade planned for the fourth. Unfortunately there was a scheduling mishap and another ward had the same plan. We both found out about it on Sunday, the fourth being a Tuesday. Well I worked with the other activities chairman and it turned out okay, not great, but not bad.

As a result we wanted to check our dates for the rest of the year and make sure we wouldn't have any more conflicts.

Well, that resulted in several e-mails back and forth, giving dates and times and places and information. I was asked for more details several times (which was new to me) but kept giving it.

Finally we got an e-mail for the building coordinator in BIG RED LETTERS asking for more specifics on the dates we wanted. And I wrote a smartmouthly reply to David (who is in our ward and working with me on this) but accidentally sent it to Sis. H. YIKES!

this is what I wrote to David, but sent to her.

My goodness but she’s a bit of a pain in the neck. We need all the room, we don’t want anyone else in the building during that time. Just kidding.
Let me think for a minute and I’ll send you a reply with rooms needed.
Is our conference pot luck okay because I need to start advertising that.
Thanks so much!!

this is what she sent back to me.
sent: Sunday, September 16, 2007 1:57 RE: ward activities reply Pain or no pain that is the question... As with all members of each ward. It is best to go through your building scheduler. This way the proper persons our kept informed. I will get back to Bro M as to the request made. I have already confirmed some of them
Sis H


then I wrote this, with a very red face and feeling ridiculous for not checking and mean for saying it in the first place.

Oh NO!!!
I am mortified, I am SOOOO sorry. I thought I was sending this to David, and we joke all the time. I didn’t mean anything by it. I am just trying to get our dates set up and it seems to be taking a bit of time and being a little difficult. We had that big mix up at our last activity and everyone is just trying to get things lined up without mishap for the future.

Again I am really really sorry!!

she nicely wrote back today:

Yes i understand. That is the bad thing about emails because they can so easily be forwarded.I try to have a protocol just to keep things all straight. And even I have my mistakes

Sis H

lesson: don't say anything mean and

double check when you send out an email.

Happy Fall Y'all

It's starting to feel more fallish around here. When we went to Sherry's house Friday night she had her fall decorations out and her house looked very pretty and very seasonal.

Then yesterday when we were at soccer there was a slight breeze and I didn't feel sweaty (a sure sign summer is coming to an end).

And then last night at dinner groups they served apple pie ice cream, which seems like a very fallish flavor.

When we were at the library yesterday I checked out a pumpkin cook book. It has lots of yummy sounding recipes that will be so fun to try.

So, happy arrival of Fall!...that makes me happy it's one of my favorite seasons. (the other two being winter and summer, spring is last~ I don't know why)

Today is also Sunday, a favorite day. Today I have a dilemma. Brother woke up not feeling well. He has a sore throat and I think maybe a little fever. I will have to take his temp to be sure. If he has one he'll have to stay home and then we always have the problem of who will stay with him. If I stay I have to find a sub for my class, and I have to find some one else to give the young women their "yw in excellence is coming up~ get ready speech" and Lucy wont get to go and she's been dying to wear her new purple church dress that grandma bought her all week. If DH stays home he won't pick up the house and I would if I did. So clearly you can see the conflict. Maybe he won't have a fever.

Dinner groups was very fun. We went to David and Caroline's and their new house is very nice so that was fun to see. They also had several couples come that we didn't know very well so it was fun to get have a chance to visit with them. Kayla played her oboe for us and sounded so pretty. I hope all the groups had fun.

Bocce Ball

This afternoon, after E's soccer game, and after the library, and after mom and I went to Noodles with Lucy, we played Bocce ball.

It was hot but fun.

Last night we went to Justin's birthday party. We had a very fun time. They had dinner and games and gifts. I guess he had never had a birthday party before.

It's Friday!

Woo Hoo! SO many things to love about Friday's!!

Here's my Top 10 for the week

1. Tomorrow dawn will crack a little later :)

2. Tonight DH and I are going to a birthday party for a friend.

3. Saturday night we are going to dinner groups, two dates in one weekend, unheard of!

4. This is "O" week at Kindergarten. Today they are eating "octopus stew", brother is very nervous about it, however I know it's really shell pasta and hot dogs cut into octopi and he will be thrilled, so I am excited for him and to hear about it tonight.

5. Pay day

6. It's a beautiful morning and promises to be a lovely day.

7. I am going to make a yummy treat for the kiddo's today.

8. Today H and I will finish our book.

9. This morning when I woke up there were clean undies in every one's drawers and I didn't have to go searching.

10. ...running out of ideas but still happy it's Friday :)

day in and day out

A few days have passed and even though we have had some great photo ops I am without camera. DH has asked me not to use his because it might break (whatever) so I won't. This morning H picked flowers and stuck them in Lucy's braid. It looked very cute. Can't you just see it in your minds eye?

S is home sick. She and J went to YW last night. They went boating and tubing. J had a great time, S had fun but didn't feel well. This morning J came and told me she needed a ride to seminary so I got up and took her and Emma. It was fun to sit and visit with Deana. Not fun enough to want to do it again tomorrow, but you know fun for 6 am-hair a mess- visiting in the foyer.

D has a new calling. Cub scouts. She'll be fun, maybe she's going to have 6 sons and needs the experience :)

Brother is liking K a lot. Yesterday he had cute homework. We made an opposite book.

Homeschooling is going well, some days. We've had some really good days. I got a new curriculum this last weekend, and while H doesn't love it she will do it and doesn't hate it. We are almost done with our book about Louise May Alcott. When we finish we are going to watch "Little Women". Then we'll chose our next historical text and move on from there. We still don't get done a lot of what I think we should each day. I don't know if that means I am expecting too much or if we are still getting up to speed or if she needs to cooperate more or all of the above.

I am helping Alicia get ready for You Women In Excellence in November. I am excited, it will be a fun night.

H goes riding today! The highlight of her week.

G's obsession with all things purple continues.

Dinner groups is this weekend, I hope everyone will have a fun time.

Tonight is soccer practice and I need to make a snack schedule to hand out.

We've been looking at cruises. We had a Mediterranean cruise all planned out and were ready to go and exited. But we realized that the sad fact is it just doesn't fit our budget. And we couldn't justify the expense. I talked with my brother and sister and they decided to switch with us, which I was very glad about. Now we are looking at Caribbean Cruises. That will cost us thousands less, it's not as fabulous sounding but how bad can a cruise to a warm tropical place be? Anyway I guess we'll be settling on one soon.

in memory

A couple of weeks ago I remembered. We talked about it at pack meeting.
Then I went about my business.

Last week I remembered, briefly, I don't recall what spurred the memory.
Then I was distracted.

Yesterday I didn't give it a thought. I was busy with kids and laundry and dinner.

This morning my husband said, today is 9-11.

Oh, that's right, I forgot.

So while J was waiting on the porch for her bus to come and the littles were hopping in the car to take brother to school I got our flag out and hung it up.

"Why you doing dat, mama?" a small voice asked.

and then I took a minute and told them the story. The story of two towers, four airplanes and a nation changed forever. Tears came to my eyes as a choked on the words.

Solemn eyes looked at me and sober faces listened carefully.

"We're still fighting 6 years later?"

"Why do bad people hate freedom?"

"What if we have to fight?"

We do have to fight, every day. We fight to remember our freedom and to protect it if necessary. We fight for what's right.

So now, the sky is gray outside my window, but my flag flies proudly. And I remember. And my children remember. And we are so grateful that we are free, that brave men fight to keep us that way, and we pray for the continued blessings of the Lord on our land.

a day in the life of a sixth.

I have to laugh at poor little Lucy. Her life is a lot different than her older siblings. When D and even S and J were little we had quiet nap times, a bedtime that was sacred, a boo boo bunny in the freezer for owies and trips to the playground, the library for story time, and to the pond to feed the ducks. We watched "The Little Mermaid" (a lot) and sang kid songs and ate fish sticks and mac n cheese. It was a very kid centered life.

By the time Lou born though things were different. We are much busier.

Today was a perfect example of that. This was a day that no one but a sixth child would ever experience.


Lucy's day started early when she staggered down the hall and crawled into bed with her daddy and me. (something the three big girls would not have done~ but the littles do all the time). She slept a while with Daddy while I showered, then she got up to make the rounds and see who else was up and out. She checked J's room, "where J?" Then everyone else.
Finally after doing her head count, and I was dressed and brother and DH were done in the bathroom, she and H hopped in the shower. Company in the shower is something you don't get unless you have a big family.

We helped the girls find gymnastics shirts, math papers, etc then drove E to school. After we got back home Lucy and H ate then we gathered stuff again and went to TAFA. While H had violin Lucy ran around the room tried to grab another little girl's stroller lay on the floor bored tried her best to sit quietly. Then during the next two classes she and I walked around, looked at the fish tank, walked on chairs, played the ever popular "count all the M&M's in the bag" game followed by the "lay as stiff as you can while mom pushes you on the table top" game.

When TAFA was finally done we went and got lunch, went to Wal mart, picked up Brother and came home.
The kids had Popsicles outside while I cleaned up and started dinner. E and H came inside. After a few minutes (maybe 10) I realized that I hadn't seen Lou so I called for her. No answer. I opened the door and called "Lucy where are you?" then I heard a little voice call back "Swing". What? I went out and there she was, sitting in the swing, waiting for someone to come back for her. Poor thing, I felt bad for her being abandoned although she didn't seem to mind, so I pushed her for a few minutes then got her out to come inside. Guess what she was more upset about. Being left outside in the swing alone? or having to get out of the swing and come inside?
The latter.

Not too long later in the evening Grandma came over for dinner/FHE. Lucy ran to the door to say hi, Millie followed and smashed into her somehow resulting in L hitting her head on the door. She cried and it looked like she was going to get a bump. Sadly we are out of ice, permanently. Our ice maker is broken:( and although I am hoping this old fridge will not move with us to MD I am also hoping it will last until we choose to replace it and don't have to in an emergency situation. So we offered her a bag of vegetables to put on it, she declined and requested a waffle instead. J got her one and Grandma and I laughed our heads off at her. She looked so pathetic it was funny. She kept it on for awhile and then got bored and ate the waffle.

The rest of the day was uneventful. She ate dinner, washed up, sang songs for FHE, went fishing during Grandma's cute Jonah and the whale lesson, had a treat and went to bed.

Things are not as kid centered, at least not baby centered. Lucy goes to soccer games, HS football games, big restaurants, shopping trips to the mall, big kids lessons, mutual night, orthodontist appointments, etc. She watches Hannah Montana, Gilmore girls and Ace of Cakes and listens to big girl music. She also always has someone to play with, someone to look up to, and someone in her family to watch her when mom can't. She's never bored and although she's sometimes cranky because we can't fit in enough sleep I think for the most part the pluses way outweigh the cons. I just have to stop to laugh every now and then when I compare.

soup to die for

DH and I went on a very fun date last night. We had free passes to the movies in Southlake from when we went before and they showed the wrong previews to us. (lucky)

DH wanted to see Bourne Ultimatum, and that was our plan. However his cousin Lisa called just as we were ready to leave and they talked for half and hour (+) and then it was too late so we were stuck seeing what I wanted to see.

I like Anne Hathaway a lot, and I like that era of history so I enjoyed it a lot. It wasn't fast paced but sweet and sad and Austinesque.



Then we walked around the square looking for somewhere to eat and decided upon Brio. It was a good choice, I think that was the best meal I have had in a long time. I had the lobster bisque which was so delicious. It came to the table in a lovely white bowl and smelling heavenly and it only got better from there. I also had the Ensalada Roma, which was the best salad I've had in a long long time.

Then we went to Barnes and Noble. A perfect evening.



Today Brother had his first soccer game, I had super Saturday and tonight the girls have a stake dance. A typically fun and busy weekend.

you know you're married to an engineer when...

he is fixing a clogged drain and accidentally breaks a small part that goes on the stopper. Then while examining it says "that's an interesting failure".

Engineers are weirdos (said with love)

a hymn

I know a lot of the words to a lot of hymns. And often they come to me in times of stress or sadness and bring me great comfort.
There is nothing more joyous than a Christmas hymn!
I know music has great power and is truly a prayer.

Today I heard a hymn I was completely unfamiliar with, but the words touched me. Doing a small part is all I can manage right now, but I am glad to know that it is enough. I am enough.

Hark, the voice of Jesus calling,
“Who will go and work today?
Fields are ripe and harvests waiting,
Who will bear the sheaves away?”
Long and loud the Master calls us,
Rich reward He offers free;
Who will answer, gladly saying,
“Here am I, send me, send me”?
If you cannot cross the ocean,
And the distant lands explore,
You can find the lost around you,
You can help them at your door;
If you cannot give your thousands,
You can give the widow’s mite;
What you truly give for Jesus,
Will be precious in His sight.
If you cannot speak like angels,
If you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus,
You can say He died for all.
If you cannot rouse the wicked,
With the judgment’s dread alarms,
You can lead the little children
To the Savior’s waiting arms.
If you cannot be the watchman,
Standing high on Zion’s wall,
Pointing out the path to heaven,
Offering life and peace to all,
With your prayers and with your bounties
You can do what heaven demands;
You can be like faithful Aaron,
Holding up the prophet’s hands.
If among the older people,
You may not be apt to teach,
“Feed My lambs,” said Christ, our Shepherd,
“Place the food within their reach.”
And it may be that the children
You have led with trembling hand,
Will be found among your jewels,
When you reach the better land.
Let none hear you idly saying,
“There is nothing I can do.”
While the lost of earth are dying,
And the Master calls for you;
Take the task He gives you gladly;
Let His work your pleasure be;
Answer quickly when He calls you,
“Here am I, send me, send me.”