Last minute festivities

Those are always the best. We had absolutely no special plans for the long weekend. We were going to have a nice long relaxing weekend with nothing at all to do. The only thing on my agenda was to get my room picked up. :P

Just after we'd walked in from church yesterday we got a call from Stephanie. "I've got good news!" she was absolutely bubbling, "our life group is all coming to your house for a party!!" I can hear her smiling through the telephone. Then she snorts. She always snorts when she's happy. Parties make my best friend ridiculously happy. :)

I love parties too, I just don't like getting ready for them.... especially in 3 hours! Toss out the nothing to do all weekend. :) I was stressing out for the first 15 minutes, wondering why in the world I can't say no to my snorting friend. But my freak out passed and it was all good. The house got clean and everyone was thoroughly impressed with my mad, on-the-fly hostessing skilz. ;)

I was SOOOO glad we did it. Not only did my house get clean in record time, it turned out to be the best evening! We had so much fun. I've decided there needs to be more words in the dictionary that mean fun because I use that word far too often... because it's just the only word there is like it! We had a gay time? No, that doesn't work anymore. ;) Ooh, Merry. Eh. I'll just have make one up someday. Jolly. Ripping! Ok, getting side tracked here.

Tom and the guys threw some meat on the grill like the alpha males that they are.
After some pretty oppressive Texas heat during the day, it cooled off perfectly after dinner to sit outside in the shade while the kids played in the water.


I think Josh's face says it all. Look up the definition for fun in the dictionary... this picture will be next to it. ;)

The evening reminded me of older times. Better times. Slow nights of lemonade, front porches and rocking chairs. Neighbors. Quiet conversation and evenings by the fire.

Then the guys broke out wii mario kart. And the spell was broken. :)

At least us ladies were still in keeping with the pace of the evening with a quiet board game.

The best part of this story is that it was just the beginning of our weekend of FUN...........

My new hobby

Tom got a really expensive early Father's Day gift. That's how much we love our Daddy. ;)

He was testing it out the in backyard Saturday and I took a turn. I'm hooked! It was awesome. And I was a great shot too! See that itty bitty hole where a door knob should be on the shed?

I got a bullseye! :)

It's a paintball marker, in case you're wondering. Brayden was so cute with is pop gun pretending to shoot with daddy. :)

It's been a good week

Despite my pessimistic take earlier in the week, the week turned out to be quite nice and things fell into place.

Wednesday we went the park to hang out with friends. It was a fun day because I borrowed the Johnson's big van (12 pass) and picked up the Forringers who's car was in the shop, and took them with us. Afterwards they came back to our house for a movie - Waterhorse, GREAT family movie - and Steff worked on my laundry that I was lamenting. She's such a good friend like that. It helps that she enjoys doing laundry. She did my dishes too! I like dusting and windows, so I'm going to her house soon to return the favor. :) Ted was working late so they stayed for dinner. Then we put the kids to bed and watched a chick flick. It was such a fun day. I love days that are fun AND the chores get done too.

During Waterhorse, we pushed the couches together to snuggle with the kids. It was so ... fun! the only adjective I know for this post, apparently. :)

Thursday was a little funky because of several things - the terrible news of SCC's daughter passing so tragically, a super weird phone call from a friend and just general ponderings doubled with grief that had me really wound up. I spent some much needed time in Job and Psalms. It wasn't as comforting as I'd hoped but it got me through the day.

Today is busy - I have a long list of things to do around the house. (one of them was get caught up on blogging! Check and check. :) I told the kids when all the chores were done, we'd go out for a surprise. They're working hard so I'd better get going so I can hold up my end of the bargain. :)

Finally - choir pics

Like I mentioned, Monday night was the Taylor and Chandler's choir recital. They did such a great job! We were very proud of our singers.

Last minute instructions from Miss Dana

Lined up to go in

Filing in

Eager parents and family

The older kids' ensamble - that's Taylor, 5th one down from the left.

The whole choir - Taylor is second row 4th down, it was so hard to get good pictures of her. Chandler is in the front far right.


The little ones singing their medley and clapping along.

Showing off their choir pins that Dana gave them.

The cupcakes were yummy!

At the house

These are from Sunday just before we left. It was such a short trip. I hope we get to go back before summer is over. :(

My dad's beautiful garden. He says it's the best garden he's ever had because of being off work (still!)

Hannah and Aaron

My family home

"A few" of my siblings and my kids - Micah, Brayden, Judah, Chandler, Taylor, Angel, Sophia and Mirah.

My kiddos with Grammy and Poppy

Helping Poppy in the garden - picking the potato bugs off the plants.

Best friends - aunt and niece ;)

Jonah is such a softy with Aaron

Mom and Sophia, her biggest fan.

Graduation and party pictures

Hannah and Noah had a beautiful graduation. In the homeschool graduations, the president of CHEF hands the diploma to the mom and dad and they present it to their graduate, It's a really cool thing to see. (and experience 8! years ago) There was standing room only at the church - over 1300. Noah performance on the piano was stunning. I'm so proud of them!

It was a fun day with family and seeing old friends.

Tired and behind

It seems to be a constant state I'm in lately. Friday we left for Oklahoma when Tom got home from work. It was a quick, jam packed weekend with my family for Hannah and Noah's graduation. I'm so proud of them! We got back on Sunday night, piled everything in the living room and collapsed in bed. Monday was oh so full, the morning/afternoon being piano and choir practice, then the choir recital that evening. It went really well. The kids did an awesome job.

The trip to OK and busy Monday has really thrown my week off. I guess that is a very pessimistic statement as today is only Tuesday, but darnit, it's almost Wednesday! My laundry is all behind now, my house is a mess -- a slightly straightened mess thanks to Dana stopping by today, but still a mess nonetheless. :) I was just too tired to do much more than straighten and do the dishes. Tomorrow is lunch club so I'll probably put it off the deep clean one more day and go hang with my homies at the park. Going to the grocery store at some point tomorrow would probably be a good thing too. We've eaten out 4 out of the past 7 days. It's pathetic.

I have lots of pictures to post of all of these events, but I don't think I will. I'll think about that tomorrow. (name that movie!) I just want to crawl in bed and sleeeeeeeep.

G'night.

Rag doll party

Today some of my girlfriends came over to have a rag doll making party. There's prison ministry here that gives these out to the kids of prisoners. Here are our creations! I had no clue what I was doing so mine turned out to be a weird little girl monster... she's the cute green thing with the bow. :)

From left to right - Taylor's first doll, Stephanie's hip old lady doll (totally my favorite- she was so creative! notice that the grooving grandma even has little toes!!!) Leigh's cute softie girl, Dana's calico prairie girl, my weird monster girl, Taylor's second doll - she did a really great job sewing, she loves stuff like this and was soaking up all the info Leigh had to share with her.

Thanks ladies. The kids are going to love our little people!

Oops I did it again

And I went even shorter this time! It's so sassy and fun - I love it! I'm going to grow it back out now that it's healthy again - Tom likes my long hair best - but for now this is super easy and breezy for summer. :)

DIrty kids Part 2

He wasn't the only one like this... but he was the only on willing to show it off. :) The Forringer kids were here yesterday, so I had about 5 kids covered in this mud/grease/rust concoction that apparently is seeping out of the the soccer goal. They thought it would be just the greatest thing ever to play in it. Kids! :)

Chunky monkey

This little guy is in the 95th percentile for his weight. Still no worries there. :) I am just eating him up. I am so in love with my baby. He is just about the most perfect baby ever. I'm always talking about it and I'm sure it drives people nuts. :) He acts like he's teething lately, chewing on his hands and toys all the time. He's getting to the curious stage too, pulling toys to himself when he's on his tummy. He lights up like a Christmas tree when he kicks the toys on his bouncy seat and the lights and music comes on. It's so cute.

Six Flags Panorama

Get ready

***Picture overload alert!!***

Yesterday was homeschool day at Six Flags!! I was more excited than the kids I think. The night before I couldn't fall asleep because my mind was racing so much. 5 hours sleep just wasn't sufficient for the long day we had. It started at 5 to get ready and out the door by 7:30. We dropped off Aaron and Brayden with the Johnsons (so great to go with just my oldest 2!), picked up Taylor's friend Bronwyn, and then the 21/2 drive! Enchanted (which Bronwyn hadn't seen yet!) made it go by pretty fast. No matter how many times I see that movie, I still laugh my head off and sing along with all the songs. I love it!

We got there right as the park was opening, it was great timing. The park wasn't over crowded, so the lines weren't bad and the day was lovely.

First order of business was to pose with Tweety. :)

The Mexican Hat was our first ride.

It was just a taste of the fun to come.

The Judge Roy Scream roller coaster. Both my kid's first real coaster! They both loved it!

After the roller coaster, Chandler wasn't happy with the "kiddie" rides. In fact, we never even stopped in Looney Toon land.

Just inside the gate - the big beautiful merry-go-round (that we didn't ride) in the background.

We finally caught up with the Akins and Hills 3 hours into the day! Aimee, that just doesn't look like the peace sign from far away. lol

Model T cars - so thrilling!

But they all wanted to drive. T and C switched out to both get a turn (totally against the rules!)

And caused a traffic jam!

We ran into the Fritz's at the boot ride.

C was so disappointed he couldn't ride with the girls. (Mrs. Akin didn't count, I guess!) I got so many great blackmail pictures of Aimee....

Like this one! I think she was doing the can-can here.....lol

One of the nicer characters - we had a bad run-in with the Joker. :/

Taylor and Bronwyn on the Gunslinger. They stuck to the safe rides!

That's about it on the park pictures.... I didn't take as many as I thought. I got some great shots of the whole park from the Parachute ride- I want to stitch them together to make a panoramic picture. I'll post it when I figure out how do that. :)

I wish I'd gotten a pic of Chandler on the Shockwave! It was a coaster with two loops on it... the girls didn't want any part of it, but Chandler will try anything once... and he loved it! And went a second time too. In his own words, "It was so awesome!" and his favorite ride. Taylor was so cute - beaming with pride that her brother was so brave. Taylor agreed with Bronwyn on the snake/bobsled coaster as their favorite.

I was a little bummed because without Tom around I wasn't able to ride the really good rides. I did ride the Titan at least - AWESOME - my personal fave. (C begged to go on it but he was too small) I couldn't talk Taylor and Bronwyn into it, thank goodness Laura hadn't gone yet! The Shockwave was decent too. I can't wait to go back with Tom and do the Superman Tower, Batman, Mr. Freeze, Flashback, and even though I was advised against it, I want to try the Texas Giant at least once. Taylor promises me she'll be brave next time and do the Titan with me. She still wants no part of Mr. Freeze though. :)

We were done with our last ride (Judge Roy Scream a second time) at 5:45 and got out of the park before the huge crowds left at 6! We all went to Steak and Shake for dinner. It started as 3 families but grew to double that. We totally freaked out our waitress. ;)

This was minus 7 kids that came later.

We took up a whole section of the restaurant.

We got home in record time (thanks to catching Eric's draft all the way down the interstate!) - right at 10, after stopping in Longview to grab a "thank you" java chiller for my awesome husband who picked up the little boys after work and didn't complain about having to watch them all evening (when he thought I'd be home at 6..... WHAT???) :)

I missed my little guys so much. I was happy to be home, get to kiss my babies and have some good snuggle time before they crashed 20 minutes later. :) I wanted to crash too, but Lost was tivoed!! It was well worth staying up. ;)

24. Days off to play/big kids to play with
25. A handy husband who's working on duct work as I type.
26. Friends who will trade out babysitting favors.
27. Steak and Shake chili cheese fries :)